Design and economics analysis of an off-grid PV system for household electrification

This paper presents a study about an off-grid (stand-alone) photovoltaic (PV) system for electrification of a single residential household in the city of Faisalabad, Pakistan (31.42 degrees N, 73.08 degrees E, 184 m). The system has been designed keeping in view the required household load and energy available from the sun. The complete model for the sizing of complete PV system has been presented to determine the required PV power rating, battery storage capacity, size of charge controller and inverter to fulfill the required load. Using this model, the peak power and area of PV modules, capacity of battery backup, size of charge controller and inverter was calculated to be 1928 W-p and 12.85 m(2), 9640.5W h, 56.65 A and 1020W, respectively. The economics evaluation using life cycle cost (LCC) analysis of the complete system has also been carried out. The LCC of the system was found to be PKR. 457,306 whereas the annualized life cycle cost (ALCC) was determined to be PKR. 31,963 yr(-1), respectively. The unit electricity cost has also been calculated and was found to be PKR. 14.8 kW h(-1). The results show that unit cost of electricity produced using off-grid PV system is lower than the unit cost charged in case of conventional electric supply to the residential areas. It is concluded that off-PV electricity is technically and economically viable technology for the electrification of residential applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.