C IRE 0

20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution

Prague, 8-11 June 2009

Paper 0404

DESIGN AND ECONOMY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES TO SUPPLY

ISOLATED LOADS AT RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS OF EGYPT
AblaGADO
Rural Electrification Authority, Ministry of
Electricity & Energy, Shebin El-kom, Egypt
dr aagado@yahoo.com

Atef EL-ZEFTAWY
Dept ofElec. Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Menoufiya University, Shebin El-kom, Egypt
AtetElzeftawy@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Meteorological conditions in many sites of the world
countries as well as in Egypt are well adapted to install
more than one of renewable energy sources (RESs) to
supply electrical loads. Solar and wind energies are the
most convenient and economic types of RESs pertaining
the Meteorological conditions of Egypt. Also, the main
type of isolated loads at rural and remote areas of Egypt is
pumping loads for irrigation purposes. So, three
alternatives of solar photovoltaic and wind energy
systems can be used to supply these loads. In this work, a
proposed model has been introduced to evaluate the
design and economy of these alternatives to supply
isolated loads in a remote area. This model is used also
for optimizing these alternatives of RESs from
economical point of view. The proposed model depends
on the Meteorological data at the installation site, the
performance of solar photovoltaic and wind energy
systems used, the type and capacity of energy storage
facility employed, the economical parameters of these
resources and load.
The proposed model is applied numerically to design
three alternative sources of solar photovoltaic and wind
energy systems to supply an isolated load in a remote area
of Egypt. The economy of these sources are determined
and compared to develop the most economical one of
these RESs.

Introduction
More than small villages in remote areas of Egypt have no
reliable source and had no local transmission grid. These
areas extend from 22 N up to 31.5 N and enjoyed with
3000 to 4000 hours of sunrise per year [1]. Most of these
areas have yearly average wind speed of 10meters per
second
[ 2]. So, the actual energy needed for these
villages of Egypt offer a rewarding opportunity for the
utilization solar and wind energy system can be used to
supply electrical loads in such areas. But, the
intermittency of solar radiation and wind speed is the
main problem of these sources. The solution of this
problem is in general employing energy storage facilities
or small diesel-generator to supply loads at the time of
unavailability output of these RESs. On the other hand ,
diesel generator is unreliable and costly [3]. Also, the
storage battery is the major cost element of RESs, have a
limit life-time and require regular maintenance [4].
Therefore, the design and economy of solar photovoltaic
(PVS) and wind energy (WES) systems depends on many
variables, namely; the meteorological data at the

CIRED2009 Session 4

Paper No 0404

installation site, the performance of PVS and WES used,

the type and capacity of energy storage facility employed
, the economic parameters of these resources and load.
In previous publications [5], a proposed generation
model has been introduced to develop the availability of
PVS and WES to meet an isolated load. Also, a proposed
technique has been given to find correlation between the
outputs of wind energy system and load demand in order
to decrease the whole power cost [6]. In other references
[7,8], load management techniques are suggested to
minimize the capacity of storage battery with power
suppliers in remote areas.
In this work, a proposed generation and cost model has
been introduced to develop the economical source of three
options of RES to supply an isolated load. These options
are solar photovoltaic or/ and wind energy systems
accompanied with energy storage facility.

2. PROPOSED APPROACH:
The model aims to develop the economical source of
three options of renewable energy sources to supply an
isolated load in remote areas. This load comprises several
individual loads such as residential and water pumping
loads. The study options ofRESs are shown in Fig .l and
the specification of these options are given below:
l-Solar photovoltaic power system accompanied with an
energy storage facility (ESF) .
2-Wind energy system accompanied with ESF.
3- Solar photovoltaic and wind energy system
accompanied with ESF
The design and cost of each option are modeled here as
followings:

Option 0):
The generation system in this option is PVS and two of
energy storage facilities. These facilities are battery and
water storage (basin) for irrigation, Fig. l-a, The hourly
insolation and the average monthly temperature through
the year months at the installation site may be used for
designing PVS as follows:
a- The hourly generation of a standard PVS has a peak
power of IkW and number of modules m through the
year months (Pe(ij) is given as follows [9]:
(PC(i,})) = m * V C(i.}) * f c(i,})
(l)
Where the hourly voltage (Ve(ij) and current (le(ij) of one
PVS module through the i th hour of the month j of the
year are:
(2)
VC(i,}) = 24 -2.1 *10'3 (TcO) - 25)
(3)
f c(i,}) = 1.35 H (i.}) + O.5*1O'3(Tcor 25)
Where ~i,j) and TeG) are solar insolation and the

C IRE 0

20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution

Prague, 8-11 June 2009

Paper 0404

temperature through i th hour ofthe month j respectively.

The annual DC energy, EJ:DC) and AC energy EJ:AC)
outputs of this PVS are given as:
Ev(DC) = LL~(i,} )
(4)

Ev(AC) =1J~ >Ii Ev(DC)

(5)
Where 1]pc is the efficiency of inverter.
b- The power and energy requirements for load comprises
residential and pumping loads can be stated as :
PI(i,}) = Pr(i,j)

+ P p(i,})

(6)

s, = L L r.;

(7)

Where P.(i~, Pr(iJ) and Pp(ij) are the total hourly, residential
and pumping loads through the j th month and E. is the
total annual load.
Equ~tions 5 and 7 reveal the peak power of PVS, P vp,
required for meeting the load demand,
c- The mass balance equation between PVS generation
and load is given by:
PV( i ,})

= ~(i,}) = P:(i ,}) + ~(i,}) + P SP(i ,})

(8)

Where; p'\{iJ), Ps(ij) and Psp(ij) are the direct and storage
powers for residential and pumping loads through the i th
hour of the j th month .
This model can be used with a published computer
package [10] to find correlation between PVS generation
and load, and estimate the capacities of storage battery,
CBs, and water basin, Qsp be used for supplying
residential and pumping loads at non- powering ofPVS.
The cost function ofthis option ofRESs is:
IoJ = Iv +Is
(9)
Where fv and fs are the cost functions of PVS and storage
facilities used which are given as:
Iv = *c v *
(10)

o,

fs=DsCBs+
where D ; D; D sp

r;

o, *cp *Ep+Dsp *csp *Qsp

(11)

and D p are the annual discount rate of

PVS CBs: Qsp and the annual energy required for pumps,
Ep' and given by [11] :
D = r(1+rl / [(1+rl-l]
(12)
Where, r,n are the interest rate and life time of the
considered system.
Pump

PVS

/!:~>:': .:.; : ':".'/

;

1. '.' '~~oreage

.L
!

C;.:

>

Water
basin

Irrigation
plant
~,

:-1

battery

.'
----"+
-+
-----,..-.

Residential
load

LL

t;

=
PW(i ,})
(13)
Consequently, the number of wind-generator of rated
power , Pwg, required to meet the load demand is obtained
from equations 7 and 13.
The mass balance equation between the generation
and load in this option is given as:
P W(i,j)~PI(i,j) = P 'W(i,j) +PS(i,j) + P sp(i,j)
(14)
Where ; P w(i,j) is the direct wind generation used.
Computer package in reference [10] is used to assess the
capacities of the storage battery and water basin required
for this option ofRESs.
The cost function of this option (f02) is given as:
;'2 = fw + fs
(15)
Where fs is given as in equation 11 and fwis cost function
of the WES and given by:
fw= Nw'Dw'cw'P wg
(16)
where N w, D; and Cw are the number of wind generator
(WG) used, the annual discount rate and the capital cost
per 1 kW of the WG have rated power ofPw G
WESn , -....
,----../.{rigation
~.'
r ", Water r an.t,
"
pu p\.. -'
basin
~
__

('7';

Residential
:; load

"""-~
J'~ ..
-.:- ~ .

....-=;...-

CI C
convert

AC/DCcn erter

Fig-l b- Option (2); wind energy system and ESF.

Option (3):
Solar photovoltaic and wind energy systems
accompanied with storage battery and water storage
(basin) are used here to feed the load demand, Fig. l-c.
The mass balance equation between the hourly
generation P1(ij) for this option ofRESs is given by :

~(i,J); P:(i ,) ~ P~(i,)~+ P S(i ,J) + P'P( i ,J)

(17)
Where;
v(i.j) + w(i,}) - PL(i ,})
(18)
Thus, the rated and peak power of WES and PVS, and
capacities of the storage battery and basin are determined
for this option . The cost function of this option of RESs
(!o3) is given as:
103=Iv + Iw + Is
(19)
Where Iv> Iwand Is are determined from equations 10, 16
and 11 respectively.
-'

, f . ,I . /

,> :1'. )
..

.... ;...../

~e

DCl AC
cd ivertt

'

A wind energy system (WES) accompanied with

storage battery and water storage (basin) is used here to
supply the load demand as shown in Fig. l-b. The hourly
output of WES through the year months (Pw(ij is
deduced as a function of the installation site and WES
characteristics as in reference [5].
The annual energy output of this WES (Ec) is given as:

Paper No 0404

WES :' I. -r-,

PVS
,..

Option (2):

CIRED2009 Session 4

~
.
~ . _.~ . .

Storage
battery

/- "' -,/'- / - / '

Fig-la- Option (1); solar photovoltaic system and ESF .

Pump
:' ", .~

:.,.

Water
basin

Irrigation
Plant
;,

Residential
load

Fig-lc. Option (3) Solar photovoltaic & wind energy

system and ESF .

3. APPLICATION:
The proposed model in section 2 is applied to supply
an isolated load at EL-kharga oasis (25 0 27" N) in the
western desert of Egypt. Fig -2 gives the average daily

C IRE 0

20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution

Prague, 8-11 June 2009

Paper 0404

load curve through a year. This figure illustrates the

categories of the load at the considered site [5].
90

- - A.Jlrp ing load

80

,- - - - - . Res ident ial load

70

50

.,j

40

......

60

-"

30
20
10
0
0

1Ba y

~~urs14

16

18

20

22

24

Fig-2 average yearly daily load curve

at El-kharga oasis [5].
Solar radiation, temperature, wind speed and its
direction, humidity and air pressure have been measured
by the Meteorological Authority of Egypt at the
considered site [1,2]. These data are utilized with the
previous published models [9,12] to estimate the solar
radiation received on PVS array, and wind speeds
through the year seasons (months). Fig. 3 gives the daily
solar radiation received on unit area of the PVS array
through the year seasons. While, Fig. 4 depicts the hourly
wind speed at the study site. Results of these figures are
used with the proposed model in section 2 to determine
the design and economy of the suggested RES options to
supply the load demand in Fig. 2. This load curve can be
modified to generate water pumps through the hours of
high insolation [6].
- ....- - Dece rrtl&r

- _-- Marc h
_-.- -A pril

. January
-

800

600

200

e, 'DO
6

8
10 12
DrI, llours

14

february

16

18

~O

2O: l-,_, _, -","-,_,_

, t:

20

8)()

~ eoo

..

."

_ .

Jul)t

A..gust

...

D>

_"_,,~,,"",,,_,, _"

a) Spring season

-~_'''M
."OOLLL

ic:
~
~

'

a) Summer season

.iii

0000
'00

~:

600
500
400
300
'00
'00

, I-,-, -,~,d-,oo -,,-..- ,,'->',","-",-"-,,

a) Autumn season

Figure 3. The hourly solar radiation at El-kharga site

throygh a day of different year months.
- - Spr ing
-.-.......- SUrTTT"Br
---+-- A utunm
- - - - IM nter

10

~8
1:. 6

14 .......
"E

~2

0 +-----.-----,.-----.-------.- .------.----.o 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

-.-------.- .-----.-------,
16 18 20 22 24

Day hours .

Fig. 4 the average hourly wind speed at the study site

through a day of different year seasons.
The following assumptions are considered through

CIRED2009 Session 4

Option 1
Peak power ofPVS, kW
Capacity of the storage
battery, Ah
Capacity of the reservoir , m'

Paper No 0404

Option2

Option 3

2
473

21
1
440

2664.5

Number of wind-generator

Cost function, 1. E.lyr

Dayllours

a) Winter season
~

Mo,

carrying out this application:

l-Wind-generators of200 kW rated power are used.
2- A storage source battery is used to supply residential
loads, while a basin is used for irrigation at nonpowering ofRESs.
3- The charge source for the pumping storage is restricted
by the permitted loading in PVS and WES, while the
storage battery is charged from PVS in option 3.
4- Water- pumps are driven by a 5 HP, 220 v induction
motor.
5- When the feeder pump is operating it can delivers 40
% of the basin capacity in one hour . While, the
irrigation plant's operation requires 20 % of the basin
capacity each hour.
6- The economical parameters of PVS, WES and storage
facilities are taken from references [11,13].
7- life- time of PVS and WES is taken as 20 and 30
years, while the life- time of the storage battery, waterpump-set , and water basin are 2.5 and 50 years
respectively.
The computer pakage in reference [10] is applied to
estimate the peak power ofPVS, the number ofWES, the
capacity of the two storage facilities used and the cost
function of the suggested three options to supply the
given load. The results ofthis application are summarized
as follows:

664

2475
3150
400
226465 206769 125401

The above summarized results concluded that opion (3)

has small capacity of storage battery and storage water
(basin) compared with other options. So, this option is the
economical source of RESs to supply the load demand at
the considered site of Egypt. Also, it should be declare
that the utilization of PVS with energy storage facilities,
option (1), is costly due to the high cost of PVS elements
and big capacity of the energy storage facilities require
for this source.

4-CONCLUSION:
A proposed model is presented in this paper to design
three alternative sources of solar photovoltaic and wind
energy accompanied with energy storage facilities to
supply isolated loads. Also, an economical model for
optimizing these renewable energy source alternatives
has been introduced. The proposed model is applied
numerically to design the suggested RES alternatives in
order to supply an isolated load in a remote area of Egypt.
Moreover, the economies of these alternatives are
deduced. The remarkable results of this application may
summarize as given below:
1- Option (3), solar photovoltaic and wind energy
systems accompanied with energy storage facilities, is the
most economical source of the study RES alternatives
(125,401 L.E./yr). While, option (1), solar photovoltaic

C IRE 0

20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution

Prague, 8-11 June 2009

Paper 0404

AblaGado

Atef El-zeftawy

power system accompanied with

energy storage
facilities, is very high cost (226465 L.E./yr). The annual
cost of option (2) is 206769 L.E ($1.0 = L-E 5.5).
2- Utilization of different type of RESs to supply
electrical loads in remote areas decrease the capacity of
energy storage facilities and the corresponding costs.
REFERENCES
[1] The European Commission and United Nation
Development Programming; "Energy as a Tool for
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Caribbean and Pacific Countries" E and Co web site,
www.Energy house.com, 1999.
[2] New and Renewable Energy Authority; "Egyptian
Solar Radiation Atlas" Cairo, Egypt, 1998.
[3] Photovoltaic(http://
en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title- photovoltaic &
action=edit).
[4] AL-Ibrahim, AM., Beckman, W.A., Klein, S.A. and
Mitchell, lW.;" Design Proceedure for Selecting on
Optimum Photovoltaic Pumping System in a Solar
Domestic Hot Water System" Solar Energy, Vol. 64,
Issues 4.6, December 1998, pp. 227-239.
[5] Ahmed, G.E.; "Photovoltaic- Powered Rural Zone
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3, July 2002, pp.379-390.
[6] Large-Scale,
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Solar
Electricity
(http: //www.technologyreview.com/red-artideaspex?id=17025&ch=biztech).
[7] Building
integrated
photovoltaic
(http://www.buildingsolar.com/technology.asp).

CIRED2009 Session 4

Paper No 0404

[8] Eraky, S.A.;" Assessment of Operating Photovoltaic

Power System for Residential Loads" Ph. D. Thesis,
Faculty of Engineering, Menoufiya University,
Egypt, 2000.
[9] Aly,G.e.M, El-zeftawy, A A, Eraky, S. A and
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[14] Ministry of Electricity and Energy of Egypt,
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