Technical, economic and environmental assessment of a photovoltaic-wind system for rural electrification in Canta

Abstract

The lack of access to electricity affects a large part of the world's population, including 14% of the Peruvian rural population. The production of energy from renewable hybrid systems is considered a sustainable option for the electrification of isolated areas. The study aims to evaluate the technical and economic viability of a hybrid photovoltaic-wind system for electricity generation at the Tambo Farm in Canta. A place that due to its geographical location is not connected to the electrical grid, so they opt for the use of photovoltaic panels for lighting and diesel generators, which limits the development of activities, affects the local economy and contributes to CO2 emissions. Variables such as wind speed and direction and solar irradiation were studied, as well as the load characteristics of the farm to determine an adequate system configuration considering the economic and environmental aspects. The results indicate that the Tambo Farm has an average wind speed of 3.02 m/s and a high solar potential with an average annual irradiation of 5.42 kWh/m2/day. Daily electricity demand was estimated to have reached 31.32 kWh during the peak season and 28.25 kWh during the mid-season. The levelized cost of energy is US$0.350/kWh, considering a lifetime of 20 years. Furthermore, due to its design, it is positioned as the most sustainable alternative, since it does not generate emissions during its operation.