A Rural Microgrid Based on Hydrokinetic Energy System for Rough Topographies

Even with all technological development, primary energy access services are yet to reach the remote/rural areas, mainly in developing and least developing economies. The situation is more challenging in rural hilly areas, mainly due to inaccessibility or unreliability of grid power supply arising from harsh and tough topographies. This paper outlines a microgrid solution based on locally available renewable for rural electrification when connected to an unreliable grid for hilly areas. A detailed feasibility analysis of the proposed rural microgrid based on a hydrokinetic energy system with pump hydro as a storage system connected to an unreliable grid is illustrated. The rural microgrid design is performed accommodating annual load growth till assumed project life with detailed system behavioral analysis showing the operation of optimal microgrid solutions with a case study of hilly community in India.