Low-income area electrification systems
- Authors: Tshabeni, Thulisa
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Rural electrification -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Rural electrification -- South Africa , Remote area power supply systems -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68807 , vital:77115
- Description: This research investigated electrification systems for low-income, informal settlement areas via grid extension, photovoltaic mini-grids and solar home system (SHS). Six electrification systems were analysed; four mini-grid systems, a 100 W solar home system and a grid extension. All have different maximum power capacities and differ in the way they contribute to sustainable development. Affordability for the consumer of the total energy required (electrical and other sources) is a key factor for the sustainability of any electrification system. Two battery technologies, lithium-ion and lead acid batteries were compared for each system based on technical and economic performance. The study determined that despite the intial very high cost, lithium-ion batteries can achieve a lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) due to their long life span. It was found that the batteries cost between 58% and 95% of the project’s capital cost. The battery cost occurs not only in the capital cost, but in the replacement cost. This cost is so high, that it makes all the solar systems uneconomic. This research found that extending the national power grid is still much more economically viable than all other PV electrification systems, but it requires land tenure. The issue of land tenure could be solved by making some agreement with the land owner for rental. It was found that the PV systems could only be economic if they increased the income of the communities substantially. , Thesis (MEg) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Engineering, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
- Authors: Tshabeni, Thulisa
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Rural electrification -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Rural electrification -- South Africa , Remote area power supply systems -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68807 , vital:77115
- Description: This research investigated electrification systems for low-income, informal settlement areas via grid extension, photovoltaic mini-grids and solar home system (SHS). Six electrification systems were analysed; four mini-grid systems, a 100 W solar home system and a grid extension. All have different maximum power capacities and differ in the way they contribute to sustainable development. Affordability for the consumer of the total energy required (electrical and other sources) is a key factor for the sustainability of any electrification system. Two battery technologies, lithium-ion and lead acid batteries were compared for each system based on technical and economic performance. The study determined that despite the intial very high cost, lithium-ion batteries can achieve a lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) due to their long life span. It was found that the batteries cost between 58% and 95% of the project’s capital cost. The battery cost occurs not only in the capital cost, but in the replacement cost. This cost is so high, that it makes all the solar systems uneconomic. This research found that extending the national power grid is still much more economically viable than all other PV electrification systems, but it requires land tenure. The issue of land tenure could be solved by making some agreement with the land owner for rental. It was found that the PV systems could only be economic if they increased the income of the communities substantially. , Thesis (MEg) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Engineering, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
Implementation of a 150kva biomass gasifier system for community economic empowerment in South Africa
- Mamphweli, Ntshengedzeni Sampson
- Authors: Mamphweli, Ntshengedzeni Sampson
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Condensation , Rural electrification -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Physics)
- Identifier: vital:11591 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/262 , Rural development -- South Africa , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Condensation , Rural electrification -- South Africa
- Description: There is growing interest in research and development activities on biomass gasification technologies as an alternative to fossil fuels technologies. However not much has been done in terms of technology transfer, particularly in under-developed and developing countries such as South Africa. This is mainly because of the lack of resources such as funding. Most parts of the under-developed and developing countries fall within rural areas and semi-urban centers, which are endowed with biomass resources. South Africa has a number of sawmill operators who generate tons of biomass waste during processing of timber; the large proportion of this is burned in furnaces as a means for waste management while a very small proportion is collected and used by people in rural areas for cooking their food. The majority of people in rural areas of South Africa are either unemployed or cannot afford the current energy services. The main aim of this research was to establish the viability of electricity generation for community economic development through biomass gasification, specifically using the locally designed System Johansson Biomass Gasifier™ (SJBG), and to establish the efficiency of the gasifier and associated components with a view of developing strategies to enhance it. The study established the technical and economic feasibility of using the SJBG to generate low-cost electricity for community empowerment. The study also developed strategies to improve the particle collection efficiency of the cyclone. In addition to this, a low-cost gas and temperature monitoring system capable of monitoring gas and temperature at various points of the gasifier was developed. The system was built from three Non- Dispersive Infrared gas sensors, one Palladium/Nickel gas sensor and four type K thermocouples. The study also investigated the impact of fuel compartment condensates on gasifier conversion efficiency. This is an area that has not yet been well researched since much has been done on energy recovery using combined heat and power applications that do not utilize the energy in condensates because these are produced in the gasifier and drained with chemical energy stored in them. The study established that the condensates do not have a significant impact on efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Mamphweli, Ntshengedzeni Sampson
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Condensation , Rural electrification -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Physics)
- Identifier: vital:11591 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/262 , Rural development -- South Africa , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Condensation , Rural electrification -- South Africa
- Description: There is growing interest in research and development activities on biomass gasification technologies as an alternative to fossil fuels technologies. However not much has been done in terms of technology transfer, particularly in under-developed and developing countries such as South Africa. This is mainly because of the lack of resources such as funding. Most parts of the under-developed and developing countries fall within rural areas and semi-urban centers, which are endowed with biomass resources. South Africa has a number of sawmill operators who generate tons of biomass waste during processing of timber; the large proportion of this is burned in furnaces as a means for waste management while a very small proportion is collected and used by people in rural areas for cooking their food. The majority of people in rural areas of South Africa are either unemployed or cannot afford the current energy services. The main aim of this research was to establish the viability of electricity generation for community economic development through biomass gasification, specifically using the locally designed System Johansson Biomass Gasifier™ (SJBG), and to establish the efficiency of the gasifier and associated components with a view of developing strategies to enhance it. The study established the technical and economic feasibility of using the SJBG to generate low-cost electricity for community empowerment. The study also developed strategies to improve the particle collection efficiency of the cyclone. In addition to this, a low-cost gas and temperature monitoring system capable of monitoring gas and temperature at various points of the gasifier was developed. The system was built from three Non- Dispersive Infrared gas sensors, one Palladium/Nickel gas sensor and four type K thermocouples. The study also investigated the impact of fuel compartment condensates on gasifier conversion efficiency. This is an area that has not yet been well researched since much has been done on energy recovery using combined heat and power applications that do not utilize the energy in condensates because these are produced in the gasifier and drained with chemical energy stored in them. The study established that the condensates do not have a significant impact on efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
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