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Design, Simulation, and Economic Optimization of an Off-Grid Photovoltaic System for Rural Electrification

Author

Listed:
  • Haytham El-houari

    (Ecole Supérieure de Technologie de Fès, U.S.M.B.A, Route d’Imouzzer, Fez BP. 242, Morocco
    Ecole Normale Supérieure de Fès, U.S.M.B.A, Route Bensouda, Fez BP. 5206, Morocco
    Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur Appliquées à la Mécanique et au Génie Electrique (SIAME), Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour–IFR–A. Jules Ferry, 64000 Pau, France)

  • Amine Allouhi

    (Ecole Supérieure de Technologie de Fès, U.S.M.B.A, Route d’Imouzzer, Fez BP. 242, Morocco)

  • Shafiqur Rehman

    (Center for Engineering Research, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mahmut Sami Buker

    (Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Konya NEU University, 42090 Konya, Turkey)

  • Tarik Kousksou

    (Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur Appliquées à la Mécanique et au Génie Electrique (SIAME), Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour–IFR–A. Jules Ferry, 64000 Pau, France)

  • Abdelmajid Jamil

    (Ecole Supérieure de Technologie de Fès, U.S.M.B.A, Route d’Imouzzer, Fez BP. 242, Morocco)

  • Bouchta El Amrani

    (Ecole Normale Supérieure de Fès, U.S.M.B.A, Route Bensouda, Fez BP. 5206, Morocco)

Abstract

Access to clean and affordable energy in rural African regions can contribute greatly to social development. Hence, this article proposes the design, simulation, and optimization of a stand-alone photovoltaic system (SAPV) to provide non-polluting electrical energy based on a renewable source for a rural house located in Tazouta, Morocco. Real monthly electrical demands and hourly climatic conditions were utilized. An initial design process indicated that, with a 1080 W p total capacity of PV modules and 670 Ah of battery storage, the proposed SAPV system was able to meet a considerable part of the dwelling load with an average solar fraction of about 79.1%. The rest of the energy demand was ensured by a diesel generator (DG). Also, a life cycle analysis of the PV system revealed that the life cycle cost is 10,195.56 USD and the unit electricity cost is 0.57 USD/kWh for an initial investment of 4858.68 USD. Thereafter, an optimum design based on Homer Pro software was carried out indicating that lower PV capacity can decrease the unit energy cost to 0.356 USD/kWh while reducing the solar fraction to 54.9%.

Suggested Citation

  • Haytham El-houari & Amine Allouhi & Shafiqur Rehman & Mahmut Sami Buker & Tarik Kousksou & Abdelmajid Jamil & Bouchta El Amrani, 2019. "Design, Simulation, and Economic Optimization of an Off-Grid Photovoltaic System for Rural Electrification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:24:p:4735-:d:297088
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    References listed on IDEAS

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