design data results of the PV system under study for a
residential home with energy demand specified earlier.
LCOE of 3.5/kWh is a clear indication that the cost
of solar power is far much below the cost of electricity from the grid paid monthly as electricity bill.
In addition, the loads in this residential home are not
classified as critical loads meaning that they could be
reduced at night hours. This implies that overall costs
may reduce as a result of reducing the battery capacity.
PBT variation is dependent on factors such as the type
of solar cell, irradiation at the location, capacity of the
system and degrading factor of the PV module
4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The computation results obtained show that the PV
system makes an economically efficient power source
for the residential home under study. The investment
will be recovered in 6.38 years a proof that off-grid PV
systems should be encouraged for residential homes
that their energy demands are low. Improvements
on individual component conversion efficiencies will
reduce the PBT of solar modules and eventually further improve the LCOE value. LCC major investment
components are the PV module, battery, charge controller and inverter. Future work is recommended to
put in consideration individual component tax relief
in determination of LCC.
REFERENCES
[1] Liu, J., Xu, F., & Lin, S. (2017). Site selection of
photovoltaic power plants in a value chain based on
grey cumulative prospect theory for sustainability:
A case study in Northwest China. J. Clean. Prod., 148,
386–397.
[2] International Energy Agency. Snapshot of Global PV
Markets. Available online: http://www.iea-pvps.org/
[3] Renewables 2019. IEA. Retrieved 28 May 2020
[4] Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; 2020. Economic
survey report.
[5] Kiprop.E, Kenichi. M & Maundu. N. (2018). Can Kenya
Supply Energy With 100% Renewable Sources? International Scientific Journal of Environmental Science.
141, 38–39.
[6] Brito, M., Gomes, N., Santos, T., & Tenedório, J. (2012).
Photovoltaic potential in a lisbon suburb using lidar
data. Sol. Energy, 86, 283–288.
[7] Headley, S. J. (2010). Solar-Diesel Hybrid Power System Optimization and Experimental Validation. Masters
of Science, University Of Maryland, College Park. Solar
Electricity, Wiley, London.
[8] Oliver, M. & Jackson, T. (2001). Energy and economic evaluation of building-integrated photovoltaics.
Energy, 26, 431–439.
[9] Kolhe, M., Kolhe, S., & Joshi, J. (2002). Economic viability of stand-alone solar photovoltaic system in comparison with diesel-powered system for India. Energy
Econ, 24, 155–165.
[10] Ajan, C.W., Ahmed, S.S., Ahmad, H.B., Taha, F., & Zin,
A.A. (2003). On the policy of photovoltaic and diesel
generation mix for an off-grid site: East Malaysian
perspectives. Sol. Energy, 74, 453–467.
[11] Shaw-Williams, D., Susilawati, C., & Walker, G. (2018).
Value of residential investment in photovoltaics and batteriesin networks: A techno-economic analysis. Energies, 11, 1022.
[12] Mahmud, M., Huda, N., Farjana, S., & Lang, C. (2018).
Environmental impacts of solar-photovoltaic and solarthermal systems with life-cycle assessment. Energies,
11, 2346.
[13] Shah, S., Valasai, G., Memon, A., Laghari, A., Jalbani,
N., & Strait, J. (2018). Techno-economic analysis of
solar PV electricity supply to rural areas of Balochistan,
Pakistan. Energies, 11, 1777.
[14] SWERA. (2008). “Solar and Wind Energy Resource
Assessment Project (SWERA), Kenya Country Report”.
[15] Alamsyah T.M.I., Sopian K., & Shahrir A. (2003). In
Techno-economics Analysis of a Photovoltaic System
to Provide Electricity for a Household in Malaysia.
Proceedings in International Symposium on Renewable
Energy: Environment Protection & Energy Solution for
Sustainable Development, 387–396.
[16] Mahmoud, M.M., & Ibrik, I.H. (2006). Technoeconomic Feasibility of Energy Supply to Remote
Villages in Palestine by PV-Systems, Diesel Generator
and Electri Grid. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev.,
10: 128–138.
[17] Assad, A. (2010). A Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System,
Case Study: A Residence in Gaza. J. of Applied Sciences
in Environmental Sanitation, 5 (1): 81–91
[18] Duffie J.A. & W.A. Bechaman (1991). Solar engineering of thermal processes. John Wiley and Sons.
[19] Abd El-Shafy, A.N. (2009). Design and Economic Analysis of a Stand-Alone PV System to Electrify a Remote
Area Household in Egypt. The Open Ren. Energy
Journal, 2: 33–37.
[20] Mulligan, C. J., Bilen, C., Zhou, X., Belcher, W. J., &
Dastoor, P. C. (2015). Levelized cost of electricity for
organic photovoltaics. Solar energy materials and solar
cells, 133, 26–31.
[21] Myhr, A., Bjerkseter, C., Ågotnes, A., & Nygaard, T. A.
(2014). Levelized cost of energy for offshore floating
wind turbines in a life cycle perspective. Renewable
energy, 66, 714–728.
240
residential home with energy demand specified earlier.
LCOE of 3.5/kWh is a clear indication that the cost
of solar power is far much below the cost of electricity from the grid paid monthly as electricity bill.
In addition, the loads in this residential home are not
classified as critical loads meaning that they could be
reduced at night hours. This implies that overall costs
may reduce as a result of reducing the battery capacity.
PBT variation is dependent on factors such as the type
of solar cell, irradiation at the location, capacity of the
system and degrading factor of the PV module
4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The computation results obtained show that the PV
system makes an economically efficient power source
for the residential home under study. The investment
will be recovered in 6.38 years a proof that off-grid PV
systems should be encouraged for residential homes
that their energy demands are low. Improvements
on individual component conversion efficiencies will
reduce the PBT of solar modules and eventually further improve the LCOE value. LCC major investment
components are the PV module, battery, charge controller and inverter. Future work is recommended to
put in consideration individual component tax relief
in determination of LCC.
REFERENCES
[1] Liu, J., Xu, F., & Lin, S. (2017). Site selection of
photovoltaic power plants in a value chain based on
grey cumulative prospect theory for sustainability:
A case study in Northwest China. J. Clean. Prod., 148,
386–397.
[2] International Energy Agency. Snapshot of Global PV
Markets. Available online: http://www.iea-pvps.org/
[3] Renewables 2019. IEA. Retrieved 28 May 2020
[4] Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; 2020. Economic
survey report.
[5] Kiprop.E, Kenichi. M & Maundu. N. (2018). Can Kenya
Supply Energy With 100% Renewable Sources? International Scientific Journal of Environmental Science.
141, 38–39.
[6] Brito, M., Gomes, N., Santos, T., & Tenedório, J. (2012).
Photovoltaic potential in a lisbon suburb using lidar
data. Sol. Energy, 86, 283–288.
[7] Headley, S. J. (2010). Solar-Diesel Hybrid Power System Optimization and Experimental Validation. Masters
of Science, University Of Maryland, College Park. Solar
Electricity, Wiley, London.
[8] Oliver, M. & Jackson, T. (2001). Energy and economic evaluation of building-integrated photovoltaics.
Energy, 26, 431–439.
[9] Kolhe, M., Kolhe, S., & Joshi, J. (2002). Economic viability of stand-alone solar photovoltaic system in comparison with diesel-powered system for India. Energy
Econ, 24, 155–165.
[10] Ajan, C.W., Ahmed, S.S., Ahmad, H.B., Taha, F., & Zin,
A.A. (2003). On the policy of photovoltaic and diesel
generation mix for an off-grid site: East Malaysian
perspectives. Sol. Energy, 74, 453–467.
[11] Shaw-Williams, D., Susilawati, C., & Walker, G. (2018).
Value of residential investment in photovoltaics and batteriesin networks: A techno-economic analysis. Energies, 11, 1022.
[12] Mahmud, M., Huda, N., Farjana, S., & Lang, C. (2018).
Environmental impacts of solar-photovoltaic and solarthermal systems with life-cycle assessment. Energies,
11, 2346.
[13] Shah, S., Valasai, G., Memon, A., Laghari, A., Jalbani,
N., & Strait, J. (2018). Techno-economic analysis of
solar PV electricity supply to rural areas of Balochistan,
Pakistan. Energies, 11, 1777.
[14] SWERA. (2008). “Solar and Wind Energy Resource
Assessment Project (SWERA), Kenya Country Report”.
[15] Alamsyah T.M.I., Sopian K., & Shahrir A. (2003). In
Techno-economics Analysis of a Photovoltaic System
to Provide Electricity for a Household in Malaysia.
Proceedings in International Symposium on Renewable
Energy: Environment Protection & Energy Solution for
Sustainable Development, 387–396.
[16] Mahmoud, M.M., & Ibrik, I.H. (2006). Technoeconomic Feasibility of Energy Supply to Remote
Villages in Palestine by PV-Systems, Diesel Generator
and Electri Grid. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev.,
10: 128–138.
[17] Assad, A. (2010). A Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System,
Case Study: A Residence in Gaza. J. of Applied Sciences
in Environmental Sanitation, 5 (1): 81–91
[18] Duffie J.A. & W.A. Bechaman (1991). Solar engineering of thermal processes. John Wiley and Sons.
[19] Abd El-Shafy, A.N. (2009). Design and Economic Analysis of a Stand-Alone PV System to Electrify a Remote
Area Household in Egypt. The Open Ren. Energy
Journal, 2: 33–37.
[20] Mulligan, C. J., Bilen, C., Zhou, X., Belcher, W. J., &
Dastoor, P. C. (2015). Levelized cost of electricity for
organic photovoltaics. Solar energy materials and solar
cells, 133, 26–31.
[21] Myhr, A., Bjerkseter, C., Ågotnes, A., & Nygaard, T. A.
(2014). Levelized cost of energy for offshore floating
wind turbines in a life cycle perspective. Renewable
energy, 66, 714–728.
240