Simulation of Centralized and Decentralized Photovoltaic Generation Systems for Isolated Sectors of the Electricity Grid

The path to reliable and safe electricity supply requires changes in generation systems, decentralized solutions is a promising concept for villagers living in isolated areas, these systems are characterized by the use of local energy, producing clean energy, however the intermittency of renewable sources leads to analyzing the best configuration of the type of system. Photovoltaic solar systems today are one of the most promising technologies for on-site generation and accessible to communities with little economic resources. Each configuration of photovoltaic systems has advantages and disadvantages compared to the other, which are reviewed so that the reader has a clear idea of the convenience of implementing this type of systems. The document reviews commercial software for the simulation, analysis, and sizing of renewable energy systems, selecting two software’s for the sizing and comparison of centralized and decentralized systems. Simulation results indicate that the centralized system has a lower energy cost, however the software analyzed does not consider the laying costs of the micro-network distribution lines of the case or study or distribution losses. The cost of energy in the decentralized system is $0.66/kWh and 0.64 $/kWh for centralized, centralized installations require fewer batteries to store surplus energy produced by photovoltaic panels.