Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access

Abstract

Direct Current and Alternative Current Based Solar Micro-Grid in Rural Energy Infrastructure

Vivek Kumar Singh, Lakshman Ravi Teja and Jitendra Tiwari

In India kerosene uses as primary source of lighting- 43% of rural and 7.1% of urban households, even most populated African countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya) more than 60% of the population relies on kerosene as the primary lighting fuel. Though they have access to grid electrification the unreliable supply leaves them in complete darkness and hence compelling them to think of alternatives. Poor electrification and unreliable supply lead to usage of kerosene based lighting devices such as kerosene lamps, which not only provides lowly quality illumination but also results in hazardous smoke. Off-grid electrification can provide an alternative solution for many low demand users at lower cost than grid extension and market growth of rural energy service. Costs of off-grid technologies have decreased significantly over the last few years hence making it affordable. Morden micro grid has come up with a way to make lighting system accessible to most of the rural households. Solar based renewable energy technologies extensively development in the last decade, the Solar photo voltaic cell converts light energy into direct current using the photovoltaic effect. Battery devices storing the extra power generated at day time and used during nights. Inverters and power Store Electronic Systems are used to convert direct current power generated by solar photo voltaic systems to alternative current, and utilization of direct current /alternative current in renewable energy power system at higher capital cost. But the internal rate of interest makes it superior to other system. This paper a latest researcher’s review of assessment of Direct current (DC) and Alternative current (AC) based Solar Micro-grid in rural community. The paper is therefore structured as follows: overview of micro-grid AC and DC system with case studies. Sensibility analysis in Compression with decentralized Diesel Genset (DG) based on Net present value (NPV) Internal rate of interest (IRR) for DG set 92% (not included as environmental economics), the IRR for solar micro-grids 50% and solar micro-grids with Government subsidy 80%. Opportunities and challenges involved in the implementation of solar mini grid in rural energy infrastructure.