IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v83y2015icp30-40.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A socio-technical approach to increasing the battery lifetime of off-grid photovoltaic systems applied to a case study in Rwanda

Author

Listed:
  • Crossland, Andrew F.
  • Anuta, Oghenetejiri H.
  • Wade, Neal S.

Abstract

Off-grid solar photovoltaics (PV) are promoted as an economical renewable energy system for providing electricity in remote locations far from the grid. However, without on-going maintenance, the performance of these systems will diminish due to battery deterioration leaving them unable to provide the service they were initially designed for. This paper presents analysis and results from a four week cross-disciplinary investigative study carried out in September 2012 into the performance of off-grid PV in health centres and schools in rural communities in Rwanda. A socio-technical approach was taken to understand the reasons for failure. A strategy was subsequently developed to influence user behaviour and increase the PV array size to reduce capacity shortage through the year and improve the lifetime of the lead acid batteries found on these systems. According to the results obtained, the total costs to implement off-grid PV systems can be reduced. Furthermore, the proposed strategy reduces the operating costs of PV below that of a diesel generator according to a projection of prices found in Rwanda which is important in a donor led installation model.

Suggested Citation

  • Crossland, Andrew F. & Anuta, Oghenetejiri H. & Wade, Neal S., 2015. "A socio-technical approach to increasing the battery lifetime of off-grid photovoltaic systems applied to a case study in Rwanda," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 30-40.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:83:y:2015:i:c:p:30-40
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.04.020
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148115003006
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2015.04.020?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gunther Bensch & Jochen Kluve & Jörg Peters, 2011. "Impacts of rural electrification in Rwanda," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(4), pages 567-588, December.
    2. Yamegueu, D. & Azoumah, Y. & Py, X. & Zongo, N., 2011. "Experimental study of electricity generation by Solar PV/diesel hybrid systems without battery storage for off-grid areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 1780-1787.
    3. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & D'Agostino, Anthony L. & Jain Bambawale, Malavika, 2011. "The socio-technical barriers to Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Papua New Guinea: "Choosing pigs, prostitutes, and poker chips over panels"," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1532-1542, March.
    4. Chaurey, Akanksha & Kandpal, Tara Chandra, 2010. "Assessment and evaluation of PV based decentralized rural electrification: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(8), pages 2266-2278, October.
    5. Jacobson, Arne, 2007. "Connective Power: Solar Electrification and Social Change in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 144-162, January.
    6. Schmid, Aloisio Leoni & Hoffmann, Carlos Augusto Amaral, 2004. "Replacing diesel by solar in the Amazon: short-term economic feasibility of PV-diesel hybrid systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 881-898, May.
    7. Lau, K.Y. & Yousof, M.F.M. & Arshad, S.N.M. & Anwari, M. & Yatim, A.H.M., 2010. "Performance analysis of hybrid photovoltaic/diesel energy system under Malaysian conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 3245-3255.
    8. Safari, Bonfils, 2010. "A review of energy in Rwanda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 524-529, January.
    9. Muselli, M & Notton, G & Poggi, P & Louche, A, 2000. "PV-hybrid power systems sizing incorporating battery storage: an analysis via simulation calculations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 1-7.
    10. Balint, Peter J., 2006. "Bringing solar home systems to rural El Salvador: lessons for small NGOs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 721-729, April.
    11. Díaz, P. & Arias, C.A. & Peña, R. & Sandoval, D., 2010. "FAR from the grid: A rural electrification field study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2829-2834.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bordin, Chiara & Anuta, Harold Oghenetejiri & Crossland, Andrew & Gutierrez, Isabel Lascurain & Dent, Chris J. & Vigo, Daniele, 2017. "A linear programming approach for battery degradation analysis and optimization in offgrid power systems with solar energy integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 417-430.
    2. Peter Boait & Rupert Gammon & Varun Advani & Neal Wade & David Greenwood & Peter Davison, 2017. "ESCoBox: A Set of Tools for Mini-Grid Sustainability in the Developing World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Jurasz, Jakub & Guezgouz, Mohammed & Campana, Pietro E. & Kies, Alexander, 2022. "On the impact of load profile data on the optimization results of off-grid energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    4. Rabbani, Rabab & Zeeshan, Muhammad, 2022. "Impact of policy changes on financial viability of wind power plants in Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 789-806.
    5. T. Chamarande & S. Mathy & B. Hingray, 2022. "The least cost design of 100% solar power microgrids in Africa: sensitivity to meteorological and economic drivers and possibility for simple pre-sizing rules," Post-Print hal-03740059, HAL.
    6. Yilmaz, Saban & Dincer, Furkan, 2017. "Optimal design of hybrid PV-Diesel-Battery systems for isolated lands: A case study for Kilis, Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 344-352.
    7. Li, Chong & Zheng, Yuan & Li, Zhengyong & Zhang, Lei & Zhang, Lin & Shan, Yicai & Tang, Qinghui, 2021. "Techno-economic and environmental evaluation of grid-connected and off-grid hybrid intermittent power generation systems: A case study of a mild humid subtropical climate zone in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    8. Weinand, Jann Michael & Scheller, Fabian & McKenna, Russell, 2020. "Reviewing energy system modelling of decentralized energy autonomy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    9. Abu Eldahab, Yasser E. & Saad, Naggar H. & Zekry, Abdalhalim, 2016. "Enhancing the design of battery charging controllers for photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 646-655.
    10. Cole, Peter & Banks, Glenn, 2017. "Renewable energy programmes in the South Pacific – Are these a solution to dependency?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 500-508.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Díaz, P. & Peña, R. & Muñoz, J. & Arias, C.A. & Sandoval, D., 2011. "Field analysis of solar PV-based collective systems for rural electrification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 2509-2516.
    2. Rangel, N. & Li, H. & Aristidou, P., 2023. "An optimisation tool for minimising fuel consumption, costs and emissions from Diesel-PV-Battery hybrid microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    3. Saheb Koussa, Djohra & Koussa, M. & Rennane, A. & Hadji, S. & Boufertella, A. & Balehouane, A. & Bellarbi, S., 2017. "Hybrid diesel-wind system with battery storage operating in standalone mode: Control and energy management – Experimental investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 38-47.
    4. Goel, Sonali & Sharma, Renu, 2017. "Performance evaluation of stand alone, grid connected and hybrid renewable energy systems for rural application: A comparative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1378-1389.
    5. Chaurey, Akanksha & Kandpal, Tara Chandra, 2010. "Assessment and evaluation of PV based decentralized rural electrification: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(8), pages 2266-2278, October.
    6. Pahle, Michael & Pachauri, Shonali & Steinbacher, Karoline, 2016. "Can the Green Economy deliver it all? Experiences of renewable energy policies with socio-economic objectives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1331-1341.
    7. Javadi, F.S. & Rismanchi, B. & Sarraf, M. & Afshar, O. & Saidur, R. & Ping, H.W. & Rahim, N.A., 2013. "Global policy of rural electrification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 402-416.
    8. Lahimer, A.A. & Alghoul, M.A. & Yousif, Fadhil & Razykov, T.M. & Amin, N. & Sopian, K., 2013. "Research and development aspects on decentralized electrification options for rural household," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 314-324.
    9. Joshi, Lalita & Choudhary, Deepak & Kumar, Praveen & Venkateswaran, Jayendran & Solanki, Chetan S., 2019. "Does involvement of local community ensure sustained energy access? A critical review of a solar PV technology intervention in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 272-281.
    10. Collen Zalengera & Long Seng To & Richard Sieff & Alison Mohr & Aran Eales & Jon Cloke & Hannah Buckland & Ed Brown & Richard Blanchard & Simon Batchelor, 2020. "Decentralization: the key to accelerating access to distributed energy services in sub-Saharan Africa?," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 10(3), pages 270-289, September.
    11. Tatiane Silva Costa & Marcelo Gradella Villalva, 2020. "Technical Evaluation of a PV-Diesel Hybrid System with Energy Storage: Case Study in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, Amazon, Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    12. Friebe, Christian A. & Flotow, Paschen von & Täube, Florian A., 2013. "Exploring the link between products and services in low-income markets—Evidence from solar home systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 760-769.
    13. Bernal-Agustín, José L. & Dufo-López, Rodolfo & Rivas-Ascaso, David M., 2006. "Design of isolated hybrid systems minimizing costs and pollutant emissions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(14), pages 2227-2244.
    14. Lenz, Luciane & Munyehirwe, Anicet & Peters, Jörg & Sievert, Maximiliane, 2017. "Does Large-Scale Infrastructure Investment Alleviate Poverty? Impacts of Rwanda’s Electricity Access Roll-Out Program," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 88-110.
    15. Berbaoui, Brahim & Dehini, Rachid & Hatti, Mustapha, 2020. "An applied methodology for optimal sizing and placement of hybrid power source in remote area of South Algeria," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 2785-2796.
    16. Kruckenberg, Lena J., 2015. "Renewable energy partnerships in development cooperation: Towards a relational understanding of technical assistance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 11-20.
    17. Akikur, R.K. & Saidur, R. & Ping, H.W. & Ullah, K.R., 2013. "Comparative study of stand-alone and hybrid solar energy systems suitable for off-grid rural electrification: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 738-752.
    18. Shaahid, S.M. & Al-Hadhrami, L.M. & Rahman, M.K., 2014. "Review of economic assessment of hybrid photovoltaic-diesel-battery power systems for residential loads for different provinces of Saudi Arabia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 174-181.
    19. George Adwek & Shen Boxiong & Paul O. Ndolo & Zachary O. Siagi & Chebet Chepsaigutt & Cicilia M. Kemunto & Moses Arowo & John Shimmon & Patrobers Simiyu & Abel C. Yabo, 2020. "The solar energy access in Kenya: a review focusing on Pay-As-You-Go solar home system," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 3897-3938, June.
    20. Victoria Kihlström & Jörgen Elbe, 2021. "Constructing Markets for Solar Energy—A Review of Literature about Market Barriers and Government Responses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:83:y:2015:i:c:p:30-40. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.