Optimal design and development of a microgrid for off-grid rural communities

In this paper, planning, optimization and analysis of an Islanded microgridhas been presented for rural community of India. Daily load profile of rural community has been considered for configuring the various micro gridsusing generation from solar, wind and generator. Simulation is carried out using Homer grid software, developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory,United State of America, to obtain optimal micro grid configuration having lowest cost and minimum emission of harmful gases. To simulate the realistic scenarios of micro grid, historical data pertaining to wind speed and solar irradiationof rural community of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India have been obtained from National Aeronoutics and Space Agency. Simulation results of various micro grid configurations have been compared on the basis of cost per unit of electrical energy generation, and green house gases emission. To establish the superiority of proposed micro grid design, optimization results are also compared with existing work. Results reveals that the optimum combination of diesel generator, photo voltaic array, and battery is environment friendly as well as techno-economic for off grid rural community.