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Solar energy potential assessment at four typical locations in Ethiopia
KTH, School of Industrial Engineering and Management (ITM), Energy Technology, Applied Thermodynamics and Refrigeration.
KTH, School of Industrial Engineering and Management (ITM), Energy Technology, Applied Thermodynamics and Refrigeration.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9902-2087
(English)In: Energy for Sustainable Development, ISSN 0973-0826, E-ISSN 2352-4669Article in journal (Other academic) Submitted
Abstract [en]

As a continuation of the study into wind energy potential previously completed, solar energy potential at the same four locations in Ethiopia has been investigated. These are Addis Ababa, 09” 02’N, 38” 42’E, 2408 m (AMSL); Mekele, 13” 33’N, 39” 30’E, 2130 m; Nazret 08:32N, 39:22E, 1690 m; and Debrezeit, 08”44’N, 39” 02’E 1850 m. As in the case of the wind data no radiation data has been properly recorded to evaluate the sola renergy potential of the country, except for in one single location, Addis Ababa. However, sunshine duration data has been collected over a relatively long period of time. Therefore, this study is based on sunshine duration data collected over more than 10 years at the specified locations and also on software and satellite interpolated data obtained from sources outside the country. A thorough literature survey has been carried out and different models by different authors have been investigated. After analyzing the data using well known equations taken from standard text books, the results obtained are given in the form of solar radiation plots for all locations. This study is the second stage in the assessment of the feasibility of a hybrid standalone electricity supply system to remotely located communities detached from the main grid.

Keywords [en]
Solar Energy, Ethiopia, sunshine duration, regression equations, monthly average daily radiation, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)
National Category
Energy Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-11797OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-11797DiVA, id: diva2:282832
Note

QC 20100623

Available from: 2009-12-22 Created: 2009-12-22 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Study into the Potential and Feasibility of a Standalone Solar-Wind Hybrid Electric Energy Supply System
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Study into the Potential and Feasibility of a Standalone Solar-Wind Hybrid Electric Energy Supply System
2009 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The tendency to use renewable energy resources has grown continuouslyover the past few decades, be it due to fear over warnings of globalwarming or because of the depletion and short life of fossil fuels or evenas a result of the interest which has developed among researchers doingscientific research into it. This work can be considered as joining any ofthese groups with an objective of giving electric light to the poorpopulation living in one of the poorest nations in the world.The aim of the work is to investigate supplying electric energy fromsolar-wind hybrid resources to remotely located communities detachedfrom the main grid line in Ethiopia. The communities in mind are one oftwo types; the first is the majority of the poor population residing in thecountryside; and the other is people relocated by the Government fromthe over used and dry regions to relatively productive and fertile ones inline with the long-term poverty reduction plan.The work was begun by investigating wind energy and solar energypotentials at four geographically different locations in Ethiopia bycompiling data from different sources and analyzing it using a softwaretool. The locations are Addis Ababa (09:02N, 038:42E), Mekele (13:33N,39:30E), Nazret (08:32N, 039:22E), and Debrezeit (8:44N, 39:02E).The results related to wind energy potential are given in terms of themonthly Average wind speed, the wind speed probability densityfunction (PDF), the wind speed cumulative density function (CDF), thewind speed duration curve (DC), and power density plots for all fourselected sites. According to the results obtained through the analysis, thewind energy potential, even if it is not exceptional, is irrefutably highenough to be exploited for generating electric energy.The solar energy potential, based on sunshine duration data collectedover a period of 7 - 11 years and radiation data obtained from differentsources, has been calculated using regression coefficients specific to thesites in question. Based on the sunshine duration data, the monthlyaverage daily sunshine amount for each of the places has also beencomputed and given in a form of plot. Through additional work on theresults of the calculations, the solar energy potential has been given inthe form of solar radiation plots for each of the selected sites. Asexpected, the results indicated an abundance of solar energy potential.It is based on the promising findings of these two energy resourcepotentials, wind and solar, that the feasibility study for a standalonesolar-wind hybrid energy supply system has proceeded, targeting thecommunity mentioned earlier. The hybrid system consisted of Windturbine, Photovoltaic panel, diesel generator and a bank of batteries, witha power conditioning converter included in the system.The hybrid standalone supply system is intended to provide electricity toa model community of 200 families with five to six family members ineach. The community is equipped with a primary load, a deferrable load,a community school and a health post. An electric load which includeslighting, water pumping, a radio receiver, and some clinical equipmenthas been suggested. Hybrid Optimization Model for ElectricRenewables, HOMER, software has been used for the analysis. Theaverage wind speed and average solar radiation calculated from the datafor all of the selected sites has been used to input into the software.The hybrid system design is approached in three different ways. The firstapproach is to include within the hybrid system those components whichare locally available, without giving special attention to their efficienciesand proceed with the design work. The second approach is tothoroughly search the market for the best and most efficienttechnological products and to select the best components for theanalysis. A third approach considered in an attempt of cost minimizationis to see if a self-contained type of design can be a better solution. Whatthis means is every household will have its own supply system that mayconsist of any combination of PV and wind turbine including converter,battery and charge controller.After running the simulations, lists of power supply systems have beengenerated, sorted according to their net present cost. Sensitivity variables,such as range of wind speeds, range of radiation levels and diesel pricehave been defined as inputs into the software and the optimizationprocess has been carried out repeatedly for the sensitivity variables andthe results have been refined accordingly.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: KTH, 2009. p. xii, 136
Series
Trita-REFR, ISSN 1102-0245 ; 09:64
Keywords
Wind Speed, Sunshine Duration, Solar Radiation, Feasibility Study, Standalone System, Solar-Wind Hybrid
National Category
Energy Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-11799 (URN)978-91-7415-329-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2010-01-25, F3, Brinellvägen, KTH, Stockholm, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Note
QC 20100623Available from: 2009-12-22 Created: 2009-12-22 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved

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