POLY-GENERATION SOLUTION FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: A CASE STUDY OF VILLAGE DHEEYA, RAJASTHAN by Azadwinder Singh
Abstract
Electricity access plays a vital role for the socio-economic progress of rural areas. Safe drinking water and clean cooking energy are the basic necessities of daily life. The integrated supply of both could have a great positive impact on living standard of inhabitants of rural regions. In this context, present work study will elaborate the feasibility and potential effects of poly-generation system that provides access to clean energy, electricity and safe drinking water to rural village in India. Based on the case study, this thesis examines the load assessment of village and resource potential for electricity generation and cooking. Whereas, the electricity is also used to purify water from Reverse Osmosis system. As per available resources, the system of biogas generator and solar PV has been designed by using techno-economic optimization from HOMER software. The study also estimates the willingness as well as ability to pay for services in order to have a positive impact of poly-generation system on rural inhabitants. The project has potential to completely satisfy the electricity demand of village and initially it has capability to supply cooking gas to 62% of the households. The levelized cost of electricity obtained by HOMER for system is 0.193$/kWh which is about four times costlier than the consumers pay for electricity obtained from grid. Yet, the system has potential to provide additional services like clean cooking fuel and safe drinking water along with electricity access to the villages which are not feasible for grid extension due to topography of the region. The system with quality and reliable services provide benefits to villagers in terms of education, health, safety, income generation, comfort and entertainment.
