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Techno-Economic Assessment of Renewable Energy-based Microgrids in the Amazon Remote Communities in Ecuador

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Several remote communities have limited electricity access and are mainly dependent on environmentally damaging fossil fuels. The installation of microgrid networks and green energy initiatives are currently addressing this issue. Thus, the techno-economic assessment of a microgrid that comprises photovoltaic arrays, a micro-hydro turbine, and diesel generation is proposed herein. Two scenarios are evaluated considering the inclusion or not of diesel generation. This model is performed in HOMER. The results demonstrate that the best option in economics is to invest in a PV/hydro/diesel microgrid, resulting in an net present cost of 2.33 M$, and a cost of energy of 0.194 $ kWh−1. Furthermore, to address diesel price uncertainties, a sensitivity analysis is carried out based on three different projected diesel prices.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2100746
JournalEnergy Technology
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

  • distributed energy resources
  • hydro turbines
  • microgrid planning
  • renewable energy
  • rural electrification

CACES Knowledge Areas

  • 317A Electricity and Energy

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