Sustainable electrification of remote communities: Techno-economic and demand response analysis for renewable microgrids
Md. Feroz Ali, Md. Rafiqul Islam Sheikh, Mir Md. Julhash, Ashraf Hossain Sanvi
Abstract
• Off-grid renewable microgrid design integrating solar PV, WT, and BESS for a remote village in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. • Optimal system configuration with a NPC of $171,720 and a COE of $0.0688/kWh, ensuring cost-effective and sustainable energy. • 100% renewable energy fraction, resulting in zero carbon emissions and significant environmental benefits for the target community. • Sensitivity analysis revealing the impact of varying factors (solar irradiance, wind speed, component costs, etc.) on system performance and economic viability. • Demand response strategies achieving annual energy savings of 9,686.427 kWh/year, enhancing microgrid efficiency and sustainability. Bangladesh has an acute power deficit, its rural areas consequently calling for creative renewable-energy solutions. A remote riverside-border village in the district of Rajshahi, off-grid due to its geography across the Padma River, boasts 2,500 inhabitants with 850 households, a primary school among them. It is to be powered from abundant renewables by means of an off-grid microgrid integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) generation with a battery energy storage system (BESS), designed in HOMER Pro (version 3.14.2). Optimum systems, including PV, WT, and BESS, attain an NPC of $171,720, a COE of $0.0688/kWh, an operating cost of $2,658.03, and a capital cost of $136,082 among three configurations analyzed. The system ensures zero carbon emission with a 100% Renewable Fraction (RF), indicating environmental benefits. Sensitivity analysis of factors like solar irradiance, wind speed, and component costs revealed economic variability, while diverse load dispatch strategies enhanced efficiency. Using MATLAB simulation, demand response analysis showed annual energy savings of 9,686.427 kWh/year. Moreover, future energy demand projections and system scalability analysis demonstrate the adaptability of the microgrid to population growth, ensuring long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness. This study offers a scalable model for sustainable rural electrification in remote regions globally, promoting environmental sustainability and energy access in isolated communities.