Optimization and Life-Cycle Cost of Health Clinic PV System for a Rural Area in Southern Iraq using HOMER Software

Ali Al-Karaghouli; L. L. Kazmerski

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2010.01.024

Optimization and Life-Cycle Cost of Health Clinic PV System for a Rural Area in Southern Iraq using HOMER Software

Ali Al-Karaghouli, L. L. Kazmerski

Materials Science

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

180 Scopus Citations

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for electricity of rural areas in southern Iraq and proposes a photovoltaic (PV) solar system to power a health clinic in that region. The total daily health clinic load is 31.6 kW h and detailed loads are listed. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) optimization computer model for distributed power, "HOMER," is used to estimate the system size and its life-cycle cost. The analysis shows that the optimal system's initial cost, net present cost, and electricity cost is US$ 50,700, US$ 60,375, and US$ 0.238/kW h, respectively. These values for the PV system are compared with those of a generator alone used to supply the load. We found that the initial cost, net present cost of the generator system, and electricity cost are US$ 4500, US$ 352,303, and US$ 1.332/kW h, respectively. We conclude that using the PV system is justified on humanitarian, technical, and economic grounds.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	710-714
Number of pages	5
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	84
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.01.024 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.01.024
State	Published - 2010

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-5A0-48040

Keywords

Design
Photovoltaics (PV)
Rural area in Iraq
Rural electrification
Stand-alone system
System

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AU - Al-Karaghouli, Ali

AU - Kazmerski, L. L.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - This paper addresses the need for electricity of rural areas in southern Iraq and proposes a photovoltaic (PV) solar system to power a health clinic in that region. The total daily health clinic load is 31.6 kW h and detailed loads are listed. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) optimization computer model for distributed power, "HOMER," is used to estimate the system size and its life-cycle cost. The analysis shows that the optimal system's initial cost, net present cost, and electricity cost is US$ 50,700, US$ 60,375, and US$ 0.238/kW h, respectively. These values for the PV system are compared with those of a generator alone used to supply the load. We found that the initial cost, net present cost of the generator system, and electricity cost are US$ 4500, US$ 352,303, and US$ 1.332/kW h, respectively. We conclude that using the PV system is justified on humanitarian, technical, and economic grounds.

AB - This paper addresses the need for electricity of rural areas in southern Iraq and proposes a photovoltaic (PV) solar system to power a health clinic in that region. The total daily health clinic load is 31.6 kW h and detailed loads are listed. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) optimization computer model for distributed power, "HOMER," is used to estimate the system size and its life-cycle cost. The analysis shows that the optimal system's initial cost, net present cost, and electricity cost is US$ 50,700, US$ 60,375, and US$ 0.238/kW h, respectively. These values for the PV system are compared with those of a generator alone used to supply the load. We found that the initial cost, net present cost of the generator system, and electricity cost are US$ 4500, US$ 352,303, and US$ 1.332/kW h, respectively. We conclude that using the PV system is justified on humanitarian, technical, and economic grounds.

KW - Design

KW - Photovoltaics (PV)

KW - Rural area in Iraq

KW - Rural electrification

KW - Stand-alone system

KW - System

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JO - Solar Energy

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Optimization and Life-Cycle Cost of Health Clinic PV System for a Rural Area in Southern Iraq using HOMER Software

Abstract

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

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