Hybrid Solar – Wind – Diesel Systems for Rural Application in North Ethiopia: Case Study for Three Rural Villages using HOMER Simulation
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mekelle University, Ethopia
Abstract
This paper considers the feasibility of developing Solar (photovoltaic)-Wind-Diesel hybrid
power systems for supplying electricity to off-grid rural communities in the Tigray region of
northern Ethiopia. Using wind resource assessment and solar potential-based data from the National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia, a case study of three sites in Tigray is presented - Serawet (645 households), Feleg Daero (338 households) and Adi Mesanu (55 households) –
which typify, respectively, large, medium and small off-grid communities. The energy demand was determined through a field survey and previous historical data of similar villages electrified through grid extension. The Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) was used to simulate and generate feasible solution through combinations of photovoltaic, Wind Turbines and Diesel Generators with a minimum levelised cost of electricity. The simulations indicate that a hybrid system option, compared to a diesel only system, is feasible for each of the three villages.
Description
This paper demonstrates that hybrid Solar - Wind energy systems with diesel backup will provide good possibilities due to the complementary nature of the resources in the study area. It presents a study done on hybrid Solar – Wind - Diesel systems in three rural villages in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia, namely Serawat, Feleg Daero and Adi Mesanu. The study demonstrates the feasibility of Solar-Wind-Diesel based hybrid systems for electrifying rural communities; and determines the optimum configurations for the three sites.
Keywords
Hybrid, HOMER, Photovoltaic, Wind energy, solar energy, Rural electrification, Tigray, Ethiopia
Citation
Abraha, A. H., Kahsay, M. B. and Kimambo, C. Z. M., “Hybrid Wind-Solar-Diesel Systems for Rural Application in North Ethiopia: Case Study for Three Rural Villages Using HOMER Simulation”, Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science (MEJS), Vol. 5, No. 2, pg. 62-80, 2013, CNCS, Mekelle University, ISSN: 2220-184X.