Concentrated Solar Power and Photovoltaic Systems: A New Approach to Boost Sustainable Energy for All (Se4all) in Rwanda
| Autor: | Samuel Bimenyimana, Walter Nsengiyumva, Aphrodis Nduwamungu, Jean De Dieu Niyonteze, Godwin Norense Osarumwense Asemota, Jishi Zheng, Noel Hagumimana |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Article Subject
020209 energy Population TJ807-830 02 engineering and technology 010501 environmental sciences 01 natural sciences Renewable energy sources Electrification Concentrated solar power 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering General Materials Science Rural electrification education Solar power 0105 earth and related environmental sciences education.field_of_study Renewable Energy Sustainability and the Environment business.industry Photovoltaic system General Chemistry Environmental economics Atomic and Molecular Physics and Optics Electricity generation Electricity business |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Photoenergy, Vol 2021 (2021) |
| ISSN: | 1687-529X 1110-662X |
| Popis: | The energy sector of today’s Rwanda has made a remarkable growth to some extent in recent years. Although Rwanda has natural energy resources (e.g., hydro, solar, and methane gas, etc.), the country currently has an installed electricity generation capacity of only 226.7 MW from its 45 power plants for a population of about 13 million in 2021. The current national rate of electrification in Rwanda is estimated to 54.5% (i.e.; 39.7% grid-connected and 14.8% off-grid connected systems). This clearly demonstrates that having access to electricity is still a challenge to numerous people not to mention some blackout-related problems. With the ambition of having electricity for all, concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) systems are regarded as solutions to the lack of electricity. The production of CSP has still not been seriously considered in Rwanda, even though the technology has attracted significant global attention. Heavy usage of conventional power has led to the depletion of fossil fuels. At the same time, it has highlighted its unfriendly relationship with the environment because of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, which is a major cause of global warming. Solar power is another source of electricity that has the potential to generate electricity in Rwanda. Firstly, this paper summarizes the present status of CSP and PV systems in Rwanda. Secondly, we conducted a technoeconomic analysis for CSP and PV systems by considering their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The input data of the SWOT analysis were obtained from relevant shareholders from the government, power producers, minigrid, off-grid, and private companies in Rwanda. Lastly, the technical and economical feasibilities of CSP and PV microgrid systems in off-grid areas of Rwanda were conducted using the system advisor model (SAM). The simulation results indicate that the off-grid PV microgrid system for the rural community is the most cost-effective because of its low net present cost (NPC). According to the past literature, the outcomes of this paper through the SWOT analyses and the results obtained from the SAM model, both the CSP and PV systems could undoubtedly play a vital role in Rwanda’s rural electrification. In fact, PV systems are strongly recommended in Rwanda because they are rapid and cost-effective ways to provide utility-scale electricity for off-grid modern energy services to the millions of people who lack electricity access. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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