| Author | Ioteba, Rutete |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. ET-01-9 |
| Subject(s) | Photovoltaic power systems--Kiribati
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of
Engineering, School of Environment and Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The development of the rural areas, where about 60% of the population dwelled, had
been Government priority for many years. In so doing, many projects, especially those that are
developmental in nature, have been implemented in the rural areas. The electrification of the
rural areas, on the other hand, had been one of Government priority projects for the
improvement of the standard of living as well as reducing urban migration.
Because of the remoteness of the islands and the abundant of solar energy throughout
the outer islands and the never ending increase in fuel price, it has become necessary to look at
solar PV system as a mean of electrifying the rural areas, thus the purpose of undertaking this
study.
The study emphasized more on the economic comparisons of the stand-alone solar PV
system, diesel/gasoline generator, hybrid system and the grid extension for the electrification
of the rural areas. The aim is to determine how solar PV system competes with the other
options in the electrification of individual household, a village and institutions.
The study found that the use of solar PV system was very encouraging at the individual
household electrification where the main uses of electricity were lighting, radio, video and
refrigerators. In the electrification of a village level, the hybrid system offered the least cost
over the 20 year period. The solar PV system, on the other hand, was found to have a life cycle
cost lower than that of the diesel generator if a 25% reduction on the solar equipment could be
achieved. In addition the solar PV system could have the least cost only if funding was
provided for the capital cost and this is due mainly to its low maintenance cost.
The main set back in acquiring a solar PV system was the initial capital cost, which
accounted for about 71 % to 84% of the total cost. Therefore the higher the demand the higher
the capital cost would be. Furthermore, solar PV systems are not flexible to use but more
reliable and easy to maintain than a generator and the hybrid system.
|
| Year | 2001 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Lefevre, Thierry; Pacudan, Romeo |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kumar, Sivanappan |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Kiribati Government |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |