Feasibility and Optimization of Standalone PV/Biogas Hybrid Distributed Renewable System for Rural Electrification: A Case Study of a Cholistan Community

Abstract

Now-a-days, electricity has become the most significant part of human life. For this purpose, renewable energy sources as the emergent sources are introduced in the system. In Pakistan, in spite of having abundant renewable sources and favorable climate conditions, there are some remote areas where the extension of national grid is still absent. In this research paper, one of the remote area of Pakistan, Chak 6-DRB, a village of Cholistan, is considered for the hybrid renewable sources. This research has been implemented on HOMER (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric and Renewable) software, in which two renewable sources; solar and anaerobic biogas have been implemented in terms of COE (Cost of Energy), NPC (Net Present Cost), costs of different equipment used and then find an optimal size and costs of the system. This HDRP (Hybrid Distributed Renewable Power) system contains anaerobic biogas, and solar system which yield most accurate and inexpensive results and are quite feasible for this remote area. This standalone generation and distribution model is also analyzed through HOMER including sensitivity parameters. In future, this role model of proposed hybrid renewable system would be very effective and helpful for other remote areas of the country for implementation