Power - Photovoltaic - 0.4 kW - Off-grid

Template assignment

Base case

• A remote monitoring and control system draws around 15 W DC continuously
• There is an access road and power distribution line nearby
• Cost of grid extension (plus AC-DC converter and a small uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system) is $6,000
• The utility charges a monthly fixed rate of $15 plus $0.065/kWh consumed

Proposed case

• Power supplied by photovoltaic array charging a battery
• To ensure reliable power, a battery with 10 days of autonomy is used
• Battery voltage is 24V
• Battery efficiency is 80%, maximum depth of discharge is 80%
• Charge controller efficiency is 99%
• The battery is located outside and is subject to fluctuations in outdoor (ambient) temperature
• Battery capacity is 214 Ah
• Battery costs $250/kWh of capacity, plus installation cost of $500
• Solar tracking mode is fixed and the slope of the PV array is 60º, facing equator
• Photovoltaic type is monocrystalline silicon
• Photovoltaic capacity is 0.4 kW, efficiency is 14.0%
• Cost of PV array (including charge controller, mounting racks, etc.) is $10,000/kW installed
• Photovoltaic control method is clamped
• Photovoltaic miscellaneous losses are around 7%
• Maintenance costs are the same as in the base case

Solution

The worked-out solution is the data file selected from within the RETScreen Project Database. The user automatically downloads the Project Database file while downloading the RETScreen software.