Ressources

Glossary

Renewable Energies

PV systems

The most common PV systems for rural areas are Solar Home Systems and Water pumping systems.

The technology

The conversion of light to electricity is embodied in a photovoltaic system which is made up of the following parts:

Module

It is the element that generates the electricity. Is form by a cluster of PV cells incorporated into a unit, usually by soldering them together under a sheet of glass. Modules can be adapted in size in order to fit the proposed site and are quickly and easily installed. They are also robust, reliable and waterproof. Modules generate electricity in DC and are available in sizes from a few watts to 300 watts.

PV array (for larger systems)

They connect modules of same specs in series or parallel. The installation should be fixed at a certain pre-determined angle so as to collect the maximum solar irradiation over a year or during the season of highest demand and may be adjusted seasonally.

Battery bank

Power system battery banks are made up of multiple units of stationary deep-cycle batteries linked together in series. The size is determined by the load capacity and desired storage time. Battery stores the energy and fed the system. The use of battery storage is required due to the intermittent nature of the energy resource (daytime)

Charge controller

controls the charging of the battery and is used to protect the battery from over charge or discharge, it can also provide information about the state of the system or enable metering and pre-payment for the electricity used).

Inverter

devise that converts direct current (DC) from the module to alternating current (AC)The modules are usually installed on rooftops and are connected to a battery, via a charge controller, which stores the electricity and acts as the main power supplier. The electricity current is provided in DC. An inverter is generally used to provide AC (220V), enabling the use of household appliances. They are PV systems are modular and can be easily adapted to meet increases in demand. They are usually run during evening hours have minimum maintenance requirements (being the battery the component that needs more attention, since the effective life of the systems will depend on a correct use and maintenance) and a long life of functional use.

Main applications

The load for small PV systems is usually focused to serve household (lighting, TV/radio, small home appliances) and social needs (health and community centers, schools, water extraction and supply), bringing quality of life improvements and enabling also small productive uses. For larger systems, power supply can also be extended to working hours and minor productive loads such as ventilators, cool storage and refrigerators hand machine tools, etc.

The most common PV systems for rural areas are Solar Home Systems and Water pumping systems. Solar home systems (SHS)

A SHS includes one or more PV modules, a battery (to store energy for the future), a charge controller, wiring and outlets for other direct current (DC) appliances. If alternating current (AC) output is needed, an inverter is required to convert the DC power from the module/array. The size of the system is between 10 to 100 Wp. A SHS of 50 Wp and a daily average yield of 180 Wh suits the electricity needs of a typical rural household by feeding direct current for two fluorescent tubes, a radio cassette recorder and a small B&W television or electric fan.

PV water pumping systems

The components of these systems include a PV array of modules, its support structure, the system controller and the pump/motor set. There are also included the water storage and water distribution system. The function of the controller is to optimize the production of water by adjusting the voltage supplied to the pump motor. These systems can deliver up to 50 m3 at 100 m head. PV systems are specifically suited for water pumping because sunshine in arid areas is often abundant and storage of pumped water avoids high losses of batteries.

PV mini-grid

A mini grid is designed to fulfill the electrics needs of a community that is not too scattered. A PV power plant usually around 10 kWp delivers the power to the households and common equipments through a grid. The components of the systems include a PV array of modules, its support structures, the system controller, a battery field. The function of the controller is to optimize the charge of the battery in order to improve their lifetime. PV systems are specifically suited for concentrated compounds of 50 to 200 households.

Hybrid system

A hybrid system includes both a PV and another energy power plant. Most of the hybrid systems combine PV and Diesel Generator Set. This system allows providing more power during peak hour. The main advantage of the system is decreasing the investment cost while keeping the running cost at a low level because the Diesel Generator Set runs for only a few hours per day. Further development of hybrid systems should allow running them with biofuel produced locally. The photovoltaic technology is also applied to solar lanterns, water treatment/purification systems, communication systems, cooling systems, hybrid systems etc…

MicroFinance

FIRA

Agricultural Trust Fund

IRAM

Research Institute for the Implement of Development Methods

MDG

Millenium Development Goals