What do Solar PV systems provide?

• Electricity (AC/DC)

…but also…

Reliability

Simplicity

Modularity

Image

Silence

Solar Home Lighting System,

West Bengal, India

Components of Solar PV Systems

• PV Modules

• Storage: batteries, tank

• Power conditioner

Inverter

Charge controller

Rectifier

DC-DC converter

• Other generators: diesel/gasoline, wind turbine

•Pump

On-Grid Systems

• PV Integration

Distributed

Centralised

• Grid-Type

Central

Isolated

• Not usually

cost-effective

without subsidies

Off-Grid Systems

• Configuration

Stand-alone

Hybrid

• Often very cost-effective

Small loads best (< 10 kWp)

Lower capital costs than

grid extension

Lower O&M costs than gensets and primary batteries

Water Pumping Systems

• Special class of off-grid system

• Often cost-effective

Livestock watering

Village water supply

Domestic water supply

Examples: Tibet, Botswana, Swaziland and Kenya

Solar Light and Home PV Systems

• Cost of grid extension prohibitive

• Small loads

• Maintained locally

• Simple

• Reliable

Batik for Educational Purposes Solar Home System

Solar Home SystemMedical Clinic Staff Housing

Examples: Finland and Canada

Remote Cottages and Homes

• Modular

• Simple

• Reduced noise

• No power lines

• Cottage:

seasonal load correlation

• Year-round:

hybrid systems

Cottage Home

Hybrid System

Examples: Morocco and Brazil

Hybrid Village Power Systems

• Cost of grid extension prohibitive

• Cost of diesel fuel and genset maintenance high

• Human Aspects

Expectations

Managing demand

Social impacts

Village

Rural College

Examples: Antarctica and Canada

Industrial System: Telecom & Monitoring

• Very remote sites…

Cost of O&M

Genset and PV complementary

• …and even

sites near grid…

Transformer cost

Can be relocated

More reliable than grid

Seismic Monitoring System

Gas Well-head Monitoring System

Examples: Switzerland and Japan On-Grid Buildings with PV

• Not usually

cost-effective

without subsidies

• Justified by:

Image

Environmental benefits

Market stimulus

• Long-term commitments by manufacturers, governments and

utilities have reduced costsPV Integrated in Office Glazing

Solar Roofing System

Examples: India and USA

Water Pumping PV Systems

• Cost-effective when off-grid

• Load correlation

Storage in water tank

Seasonal load correlation

• Improved water quality

• Convenient

• Reliable

• Simple

Domestic Water

Cattle Watering System

Photovoltaic Project Considerations

• Distance to grid

• Cost of site visits

• O&M costs

• Reliability vs. cost

• Managing expectations

• Social aspects

• Value of intangibles

Image

Environmental benefits

Reduced noise and visual pollution

Modularity & simplicity

NorthwesTel Mountaintop Repeater Station, Northern British Columbia, Canada

Questions?

About Photovoltaic Project