Nowadays the number of people without an access to electricity is still 860 million. This number is expected to decrease to 674 million by 2030, but 600 million will be in Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly in rural areas. The aim of the thesis is to make a feasibility study for the electrification project of an isolated community centre in Cameroon, called Akak-Bitetele. It has been carried out through a comprehensive approach that begins with the collection of data from the community center through surveys designed according to local characteristics. Continuing with the data collection and estimation on the renewable sources available for the power generation which in this case are solar and hydraulic energy. Then, the thesis continues with load demand assessment using a novel open-source bottom-up stochastic model specifically conceived for the generation of multi-energy loads for systems located in remote areas using the data obtained in the surveys. And finishing with the sizing of the power plant using Linear Programming (LP) mathematical formulation. The study includes economic and ecological variables to assess the different possible optimal solutions. The approach is based on two software tools developed by Politecnico di Milano: RAMP and MicroGrids.Py models, conceived respectively for electricity load profile generation and micro grid optimization. Different scenarios are proposed in the optimization step in order to compare between hydro-based and PV-based power plants. Furthermore, an hybrid solution from both renewable sources is considered. To conclude, a sensitivity analysis of the project is included to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each scenario. Different feasible solutions to the electrification problem have been obtained. Hydro based system results as the most economic and robust solution but with the need to rely on a generator during dry seasons. This dependency on generator can be addressed with the hybrid configuration, that combines hydro and solar with batteries, but with doubled costs.
Al giorno d’oggi il numero di persone senza accesso all’elettricità è ancora di 860 milioni. Questo numero dovrebbe scendere a 674 milioni entro il 2030, ma 600 milioni saranno nell’Africa subsahariana, soprattutto nelle zone rurali. Lo scopo della tesi è quello di realizzare uno studio di fattibilità per il progetto di elettrificazione di un isolato centro comunitario in Camerun, chiamato Akak-Bitetele. E stato effettuato attraverso un approccio globale che inizia con la raccolta di dati dal centro della comunità attraverso indagini progettate secondo le caratteristiche locali. Proseguimento della raccolta dei dati e della stima delle fonti rinnovabili disponibili per la produzione di energia, che in questo caso sono energia solare e idraulica. Poi, la tesi prosegue con la valutazione della domanda di carico utilizzando un nuovo modello stocastico appositamente concepito per la generazione di carichi multi-energia per sistemi situati in aree remote. E rifinendo con il dimensionamento della centrale elettrica utilizzando la Programmazione Lineare (LP) formulazione matematica. Lo studio comprende variabili economiche ed ecologiche per valutare le diverse soluzioni ottimali possibili. L’approccio si basa su due strumenti software sviluppati dal Politecnico di Milano: i modelli RAMP e MicroGrids.Py, concepiti rispettivamente per la generazione del profilo di carico elettrico e l’ottimizzazione della micro rete. Per concludere, sono incluse un’analisi di sensibilità e una valutazione di impatto del progetto. Si propongono diversi scenari per confrontare le centrali idroelettriche e quelle fotovoltaiche. Viene inoltre presa in considerazione una soluzione ibrida da entrambe le fonti rinnovabili. Per concludere, viene inclusa un’analisi di sensibilità del progetto per valutare i punti di forza e di debolezza di ciascuno scenario. Sono state ottenute diverse soluzioni possibili al problema dell’elettrificazione. I risultati del sistema a base di idro come la soluzione più economica e robusta ma con la necessità di fare affidamento su un generatore durante le stagioni asciutte. Questa dipendenza dal generatore può essere affrontata con la configurazione ibrida, che combina idro e solare con le batterie, ma con costi raddoppiati.
Feasibility study for the electrification of an off-grid community center in Cameroon
MORENO AYERBE, CARMEN
2019/2020
Abstract
Nowadays the number of people without an access to electricity is still 860 million. This number is expected to decrease to 674 million by 2030, but 600 million will be in Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly in rural areas. The aim of the thesis is to make a feasibility study for the electrification project of an isolated community centre in Cameroon, called Akak-Bitetele. It has been carried out through a comprehensive approach that begins with the collection of data from the community center through surveys designed according to local characteristics. Continuing with the data collection and estimation on the renewable sources available for the power generation which in this case are solar and hydraulic energy. Then, the thesis continues with load demand assessment using a novel open-source bottom-up stochastic model specifically conceived for the generation of multi-energy loads for systems located in remote areas using the data obtained in the surveys. And finishing with the sizing of the power plant using Linear Programming (LP) mathematical formulation. The study includes economic and ecological variables to assess the different possible optimal solutions. The approach is based on two software tools developed by Politecnico di Milano: RAMP and MicroGrids.Py models, conceived respectively for electricity load profile generation and micro grid optimization. Different scenarios are proposed in the optimization step in order to compare between hydro-based and PV-based power plants. Furthermore, an hybrid solution from both renewable sources is considered. To conclude, a sensitivity analysis of the project is included to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each scenario. Different feasible solutions to the electrification problem have been obtained. Hydro based system results as the most economic and robust solution but with the need to rely on a generator during dry seasons. This dependency on generator can be addressed with the hybrid configuration, that combines hydro and solar with batteries, but with doubled costs.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/164758