TECHNO=ECONOMIC STUDY OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Abstract

Energy demand in the country is growing rapidly as a function, both of population growth and improving standard of living. The burgeoning energy demand creates shortages, particularly of cooking fuel and electricity, that detract from quality of life and inhibit industrial and commercial growth. Efforts to expand energy supplies rely almost on systems that cannot be sustained over the long term, either due to depletion of fossil fuel resource, over consumption of biomass resources, which spoils forests and the land base. Energy is vital for a healthy and dynamic rural growth which can arrest the socio-political friction emanating from the mass migration of rural population to the urban centers. Rural development requires upgrading the overall basic living environment of rural life. This warrants a phenomenal increase in the use of energy in some form or the other in rural areas. Traditional techniques of meeting the increasing energy demand are regressive in human as well as environmental terms. Thus, there is a need to promote intensive adoption of conservation measures and effective use of renewable sources of energy. The present study focuses on the use of Solar Photovoltaic Systems for rural electrification in the remote and far flung villages of Arunachal Pradesh. The solar radiation data have been generated for 25 different locations in the State. The system sizing and techno-economic feasibility study have been carried out for two villages namely, Pasighat and Tuting. The cost annuity comparison method has been adopted for the cost analysis. The comparison has been made between the solar PV Systems and the Diesel Generators, which are commonly adopted for rural electrification in Arunachal Pradesh. The results of the system sizing and cost analysis have been reviewed critically and suggestion made thereupon for the adoption of the solar PV Systems.