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Publication Date

2013

Document Type

Honors Project

Department

Engineering

Keywords

Hybrid power systems-Kenya-Design, Hybrid power system-Kenya-Design-Evaluation, Rural electrification-Kenya, Wind power, Solar energy, Photovoltaic power systems, Off grid rural electrification, Net present cost, CO Љдд emissions, Wind, Photovoltaic

Abstract

For domestic consumers in the rural areas of northern Kenya, like many other developing countries, the typical method of electrical supply is diesel generators. However, diesel generators are associated with both CO2 emissions, which adversely affect the environment and increasing diesel prices, which inflate the prices of consumer goods. The Kenya Government has taken steps towards addressing this issue by proposing The Hybrid Mini-grid Project, which involves the installation of 3 MW of wind and solar energy systems in facilities with existing diesel generators. However, this project has not yet been implemented. As a contribution to this effort by the Kenya Government, this thesis proposes, simulates and analyzes six different configurations of hybrid energy systems incorporating wind energy, solar energy and battery storage to replace the stand-alone diesel power systems servicing six remote villages in northern Kenya. The outcome of this work would be a reduction in Kenya's dependency on diesel fuel, leading to reductions in carbon footprint. This analysis confirms the feasibility of these hybrid systems with many configurations being profitable. However, a Multi-Attribute Tradeoff Analysis was employed to determine the best hybrid system configuration option that would reduce diesel fuel consumption, consequently minimizing the CO2 emissions at a minimal net present cost (NPC). This analysis determined that a wind-diesel-battery configuration consisting of two 500 kW turbines, 1200 kW diesel capacity and 95,040 Ah battery capacity is the best option to replace a 3,200 kW stand-alone diesel system providing electricity to a village with a peak demand of 839 kW. It has the potential to reduce diesel fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 98.8%.

Language

English

Comments

x, 93 p. : ill. (chiefly col.), col. maps. Honors project-Smith College, 2013. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-91)

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