dc.description.abstract |
Moi University relies on utility grid whose major sources are centralized generation
with petroleum, hydro and geothermal resources. With increasing students enrolment
every year, the grid power is not adequate, hence frequent outages are experienced.
During the occurrence, diesel generators are utilized as backup. However, fuel is
expensive for its operation. Fortunately, Moi University administration block is at
geographical location of 0.286°N latitude and 35.294°E longitude, where availability
of solar resource is throughout the year. The average has been indicated to be 5.56
kWh/m 2 /day. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to design, simulate and
evaluate a grid-connected system for Moi University administration block. The specific
objectives were: to evaluate the optimal values of solar resource parameters with
respect to tilt and orientation; to map and collect power rating data of power consumer
in the administration block; to design and simulate a grid connected PV system based
on the outcome of first and second objectives and finally to evaluate the economic
impact of incorporating battery bank to the grid connected system. To design an ideal
grid connected PV system this study had to get ideal solar resource parameters through
experimentation by varying solar panel tilt and orientation. Administration block’s
power demand was obtained through physical load audit and utility company bills
(KPLC bills) to obtain load demand as well as identifying the amount critical load
power consumption. Lastly, a grid connected system was designed, simulated at this
ideal orientation and its performance evaluated by PVsyst software. The economical
evaluation was done with respect to current market prices. The orientation of the
building was found to be desirable for having most of its roof surface area on its
longitudinal length sloping downward midway along North and South axis to forming
solar plane Azimuth 159 ° and −21 ° . The obtained load was 19745 kWh per Month,
with 66.24 kWh being daily critical load. The energy balance between load and
available solar resource done by PVsyst yielded a feasible and economical system of
100 Kw grid-tie system with a battery bank of 2145 Ah at 48 V. This battery bank was
sized to specifically support the critical load sub panel when this system intentionally
island during outage. The study obtained an ideal panel orientation as −21 ° tilt angle
and 159 ° azimuth angle. The designed system simulated yearly production of 265.21
mWh leading to which a savings of KES 4.3 million per year. This translated to
breakeven of 2.7 years for a 100 kW grid-connected system without battery bank while
3.4 years for the same system with batteries. In conclusion, such a system with these
savings on electric bills, improved power reliability, and short time of return on
investment can be adopted to take advantage of abundant solar energy resources.
Therefore, this study recommends a grid connected solar system not only for
administration block but to the whole university to take advantage of adequate solar
resource within the geographical location. Future work is needed on ways of enhancing
energy efficiency and its impact on sizing solar system as alternative power supply. |
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