Analysis of transportable off-grid solar power generation for rural electricity supply: an application study of Sanliurfa, Turkey

Abstract

Despite the advances in technology, electrical energy needs in rural and less developed regions are not yet fully met in terms of cost and sustainability. Nowadays, small-scale Photovoltaic (PV) systems can be transported to other regions and easily reinstalled so that these systems can be used in areas where needed for home usage and humanitarian purposes. There is no doubt that a PV-based microgrid is needed in rural and remote areas where energy is often important, and grid energy is not available or unstable. Mobility microgrid design studies can reduce time, effort, and costs significantly in such cases. Therefore, the design, modeling, and technical simulation of an isolated system based on solar energy are investigated and analyzed in this paper. This study also highlights the future trends of transportable-based isolated (off-grid) microgrid design which provides a sustainable solution for small-scale PV power generation. Additionally, an optimal solution approach for power management with Energy Storage (ES) and PV energy technologies is presented in the developed of an off-grid PV system. Aside from the designed system's cost-benefit analysis, important criteria such as lifespan, battery performance, and energy production have been evaluated. The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) with the load flow in 24-hour scenario is modeled, and simulated, also the findings are presented. Specifically, an application study for a 60.75 kWp isolated (off-grid) PV system with the 105.98 kWh ES, and 16 kVA diesel generator is discussed in terms of financial, regional, and technical parameters as well as numerical modeling, and MATLAB simulation for the province of Sanliurfa in Turkey.