Abstract:
The electrification of rural areas in developing countries presents significant challenges
due to infrastructural, economic, and environmental constraints. This thesis focuses on
design, modeling, and control of a standalone microgrid system tailored for the rural
community of Gashamo Village in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The goal is to provide
a sustainable, reliable, and cost effective energy solution that leverages local renewable
resources to address the persistent lack of access to electricity and its associated socioeconomic
impacts.
Gashamo Village faces numerous problems due to its remoteness and the absence of a
centralized power grid. These issues include limited access to education and healthcare
services, hindered economic development, and reliance on expensive and polluting diesel
generators. Additionally, the lack of electricity exacerbates poverty and reduces the
overall quality of life.
The proposed microgrid system integrates solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines,
and a battery storage system to ensure a continuous power supply. The design process
begins with an assessment of the village's energy demand, local climate conditions, and
renewable energy potential. A comprehensive load profile is developed based on data
collected from household surveys and energy audits.
The design process utilized the HOMER software for optimal micro grid system design
and MATLAB simulation software for modeling of solar PV, wind, battery and diesel
generator system components. To ensure cost effective power usage, a fuzzy logic
controller was employed. This controller monitored the demand and the availability of
power sources, enabling it to switch to the appropriate power supply as per the developed
protocol.
Keywords:, Fuzzy Logic Control, Micro grid system, solar PV, wind Turbine, Battery
Bank System, Diesel Generator, Primary load and Deferrable load.