LAPSE:2019.1299
Published Article
LAPSE:2019.1299
A Techno-Economic Analysis of Off-Grid Solar PV System: A Case Study for Punjab Province in Pakistan
December 9, 2019
Fossil fuels are the primary sources of electricity generation in Pakistan. The energy demand and supply gap have intensified recently due to the massive population and fossil fuels are unable to meet the gigantic energy requirement of the country. Meanwhile, they also have adverse environmental impacts. Remote rural regions that are far away from the national grid do not have any means to fulfill their energy needs. The off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) system has emerged to be the best energy option to electrify these remote regions. However, the strategic problem pertaining to local electricity generation is the absence of the area-specific generation capacity and economic feasibility data for solar energy. To address this problem, this study aims to assess the potential and economic viability of utilizing an off-grid solar PV system for rural electrification in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The research results reveal that there is an excellent solar irradiance in the rural areas of Punjab for electricity generation. In addition, suitable tilt angles have been calculated to increase the energy output of solar PV in the respective regions. Furthermore, this study has undertaken the economic viability for solar PV systems, and it was found that electricity generation from the solar PV costs Pakistani rupees (PKR) 7.15 per kWh and is much cheaper than conventional electricity, which costs PKR 20.7 per kWh. Besides, the system can reduce carbon emissions considerably. If 100% of the unelectrified households adopt solar PV system, then 617,020 metric tons of CO2 could be mitigated annually. Based on research findings, this study has suggested essential policy recommendations that would serve as a guideline for the government and stakeholders to maximum deploy the off-grid solar PV rural electrification programs in Punjab as well as on a national scale.
Keywords
CO2 mitigation, economic feasibility, off-grid solar PV system, remote regions, rural electrification
Suggested Citation
Irfan M, Zhao ZY, Ahmad M, Rehman A. A Techno-Economic Analysis of Off-Grid Solar PV System: A Case Study for Punjab Province in Pakistan. (2019). LAPSE:2019.1299
Author Affiliations
Irfan M: Beijing Key Laboratory of New Energy and Low Carbon Development, School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China [ORCID]
Zhao ZY: Beijing Key Laboratory of New Energy and Low Carbon Development, School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Ahmad M: School of Economics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China [ORCID]
Rehman A: Research Center of Agricultural-Rural-Peasants, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China [ORCID]
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
7
Issue
10
Article Number
E708
Year
2019
Publication Date
2019-10-07
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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Original Submission
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PII: pr7100708, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2019.1299
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doi:10.3390/pr7100708
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Dec 9, 2019
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Dec 9, 2019
 
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Calvin Tsay
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