Hybrid Photovoltaic-Wind Microgrid With Battery Storage for Rural Electrification: A Case Study in Perú

Microgrids are autonomous systems that generate, distribute, store and manage energy. In Peru, with about 1.5 million people without access to electricity, these type systems have great potential to supply energy to remote communities since they can integrate solar, wind and back-up diesel generation. This paper studies the technical aspects of implementation, operation and social impact of a hybrid microgrid installed in Laguna Grande, Ica, Peru. The case study is developed in a rural fishing community composed of about 35 families who have lived in this remote location for more than 40 years without access to electricity. The design of the microgrid comprised three main stages: assessment, sizing, and social management. According to the resource assessment, the place has a very high wind potential with an average of 8 m/s and an annual average irradiation of 6 kWh/m2/day. The microgrid was designed based on interviews to the interested members of the community, energy use, social-economics aspects and factors such as expected growth and available funds. The construction followed a participative approach, involving the community in specific stages of the project. This hybrid microgrid is composed by a 6 kWp photovoltaic system and two wind turbines of 3 kW each. It has two coupled 4 kW inverters that deliver power to a 230V AC distribution line to which all the community loads are connected. Energy storage is by means of a VRLA 800Ah, 48V battery bank designed to work at 50% DOD. The installed microgrid has proven very effective to supply an average daily demand of 23 kWh at an almost steady power of 1 to 1.2 kW. During almost 2 years of monitoring it has presented 10% of loss of load due to peak increases in demand and occasional low solar and wind resources. PV/wind integration is very important since approximately 60% of the energy demanded is nocturnal. The CAPEX of the project reached USD 36,000.00, obtaining a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.267 USD per kWh. The project contemplates a useful life of 20 years, with battery renewal every 3 years and wind turbines and electronics every 10.