Hybrid energy systems for rural communities in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have been widely utilized as alternative energy sources to fossil fuels in residential areas in many countries. The PV cell output varies according to many factors including weather conditions, time of day, season and location. Therefore, such systems cannot meet demand at all times necessitating incorporation of backup systems to smoothen the output and to meet electricity demand. This paper presents the modeling and operational strategy of a hybrid system consisting of a PV, diesel generator and battery. If the PV output is not enough to meet the load the generator and/or battery system compensates the power imbalance. The behavior of the proposed hybrid system is verified by simulation using HOMER Software. The simulation results indicate that hybrid systems would be feasible options for distributed generation of electric power for remote locations or areas not connected to the electricity grid.