Publication date: October 2023
Author: Elsevier
Description: Using real-time load data and HOMER Pro's ‘multi-year’ optimization tool, this paper investigates the long-term cost optimal capacity expansion planning (CEP) for an overloaded photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid (MG) with storage batteries in off-grid rural Ethiopia over a 20-year planning horizon. Three distinct annual energy demand growth scenarios were considered: 0% (fulfils the minimum load requirement), 5%, and a 15% from productive users only. In all scenarios, the generation mix consists of only solar energy and the maximum allowable capacity shortage (MACS) is limited to 10%. The findings reveal that, in all scenarios, the largest capacity expansion is performed on the battery and PV systems, covering up to 73% and 35% of the total expansion costs, respectively.
