The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes

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dc.contributor.advisorEberhard, Antonen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMuller, Donovan Herberten_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-25T16:16:24Z
dc.date.available2016-09-25T16:16:24Z
dc.date.issued1987en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis thesis presents a study of the technical, economic and social appropriateness of small stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems for meeting minimal electrical requirements in low-income off-grid households. A comprehensive review of the literature on photovoltaic technology was undertaken to identify key theoretical parameters and issues, and also to determine what the experience has been of similar applications in third world countries. Two PV systems were installed as demonstration projects: one at Uitsig near Cape Town, and the other at Omdraaisvlei in the Northern Cape. In order to monitor and evaluate the techriical performance of these systems, remote data capture units were installed for measuring appropriate parameters for analysis on typical daily, weekly and monthly bases. The degree of matching between the PV output characteristics and the battery and load demand was examined as weLl as the costs of system and component efficiencies under different operating conditions. The economic evaluation aimed to compare small PV systems with these of alternative power systems, for example petrol generators. Using a life cycle costing methodology (discounted to present value) the least-cost option for small power systems was determined under a range of financial scenarios. The social evaluation aimed at determining the impact of PV power on peoples' lifestyles. The results of the two demonstration projects have shown that photovoltaics can appropriately meet small domestic power needs in off-grid applications, providing clean, reliable, maintenance-free electricity which is far more convenient than other electricity producing technologies. Photovoltaics proved to be very much more cost effective than petrol generators, and were also found to be cheaper than coventionally used energy sources such as paraffin, candles and batteries. Both of the demonstration project households were extremely satisfied with the PV systems, which have resulted in significant improvement in quality of lifestyles. However, based on the overall performance of the systems it was recommended that more research was needed, using local conditions, and data to develop better PV system design and sizing methodologies.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMuller, D. H. (1987). <i>The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Energy Research Centre. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21862en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMuller, Donovan Herbert. <i>"The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Energy Research Centre, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21862en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMuller, D. 1987. The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Muller, Donovan Herbert AB - This thesis presents a study of the technical, economic and social appropriateness of small stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems for meeting minimal electrical requirements in low-income off-grid households. A comprehensive review of the literature on photovoltaic technology was undertaken to identify key theoretical parameters and issues, and also to determine what the experience has been of similar applications in third world countries. Two PV systems were installed as demonstration projects: one at Uitsig near Cape Town, and the other at Omdraaisvlei in the Northern Cape. In order to monitor and evaluate the techriical performance of these systems, remote data capture units were installed for measuring appropriate parameters for analysis on typical daily, weekly and monthly bases. The degree of matching between the PV output characteristics and the battery and load demand was examined as weLl as the costs of system and component efficiencies under different operating conditions. The economic evaluation aimed to compare small PV systems with these of alternative power systems, for example petrol generators. Using a life cycle costing methodology (discounted to present value) the least-cost option for small power systems was determined under a range of financial scenarios. The social evaluation aimed at determining the impact of PV power on peoples' lifestyles. The results of the two demonstration projects have shown that photovoltaics can appropriately meet small domestic power needs in off-grid applications, providing clean, reliable, maintenance-free electricity which is far more convenient than other electricity producing technologies. Photovoltaics proved to be very much more cost effective than petrol generators, and were also found to be cheaper than coventionally used energy sources such as paraffin, candles and batteries. Both of the demonstration project households were extremely satisfied with the PV systems, which have resulted in significant improvement in quality of lifestyles. However, based on the overall performance of the systems it was recommended that more research was needed, using local conditions, and data to develop better PV system design and sizing methodologies. DA - 1987 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1987 T1 - The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes TI - The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21862 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21862
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMuller DH. The use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homes. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Energy Research Centre, 1987 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21862en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentEnergy Research Centreen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEnergy Researchen_ZA
dc.titleThe use of small photovoltaic systems for the electrification of off-grid homesen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Eng)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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