Abstract:
The problem of providing power to remotely located radio transmitter sites is a serious concern for the media industry, specially powering the FM radio transmitter machines located in rural areas and higher mountains because Grid expansion to such areas is either financially not viable or practically not feasible as these locations are geographically isolated. The feasible solution looks technically possible, which is using alternative energy based on hybrid system. In order to meet sustained load demands during fluctuation of national grid due to different reasons. Different energy sources and converters need to be integrated with each other. This paper presents and explores the possibility of putting hybrid energy system for powering Amhara mass media FM radio transmitter sites. Looking at Amhara region in Ethiopia weather conditions, the most feasible configuration is PV- wind Energy System with diesel generator as a backup for FM radio transmitter sites. In this regard, this study investigates the possibility of providing electricity from solar/wind based hybrid system for remotely located transmitter sites off the main grid line. Within the hybrid system setup PV panels, wind turbines, a bank of batteries and for a backup diesel generator is included. Firstly, the solar energy and wind power potential of the site area is evaluated based on the available data. And the electrical load of the transmitter and home appliances is estimated taking critical assumptions. A standalone wind/solar/battery hybrid system is considered separately in order to electrify the selected site. HOMER simulation software has been used as the modeling and designing tool. For the first option many feasible hybrid system combinations are listed and sorted according to their net present cost.. The simulation results show many feasible hybrid system combinations having a cost of energy less than $0.295/kWh which is much lower than diesel generators and previously
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studied PV/Wind hybrid systems. The hybrid energy system optimized by HOMER for this village is cost effective as compared to the cost required to electrifying the site. The breakeven grid extension distance is found to be 15kms, which implies that this hybrid energy system is cost-effective for areas greater than the breakeven distance.