Final Report Summary - CRESMED (Cost efficient and reliable rural electrification schemes for South Mediterranean countries based on multi user Solar Hybrid grids)
Rural electrification in southern Mediterranean countries is mostly done with solar home systems, which only provide service for a very limited number of appliances (lights). This service gives an image that 'PV is for the poor', and is not sufficient for the stimulation of economic activities in rural areas. Fuel generators, which are also often used, give more electrical power, but suffer from high maintenance costs, irregular availability of fuel, and are mostly used to give a limited energy service during 6 to 14 hours per day only. The solution is the employment of hybrid systems using a mix of renewable energies and fossil fuels, and by providing energy service for the population of a rural community via a micro grid. The integrated approach for rural electrification using such multi user hybrid grids has been tested for electrification in Europe, but still has to be adapted to the different social, economical and environmental context in southern Mediterranean countries.
The main strategic objectives of the 'Cost-efficient and reliable rural electrification schemes for south mediterranean countries based on multi user solar hybrid grids (Cresmed) project were:
- to apply cost effective renewable energy (RE) solutions in order to provide electricity for rural areas and villages produced by multi user solar hybrid systems (MSGs) combining solar and other locally available energy sources using local micro grids, and
- to develop management tools in order to operate rationally a larger number of MSGs in a region by satellite and other communication technologies.
While the current technology already developed and implemented for multi-user solar hybrid grids is performing well in applications around Europe, the improvements in the Cresmed project give additional value to both the user and the operator of such state of the art systems. The power conditioning unit has been adapted so that it can perform reliably in the hot and dusty weather conditions of the Mediterranean partner countries.
A remote tele-monitoring system has been developed so that the operation and maintenance can gather data and information for monitoring without having to visit the site as often to ensure reliable performance.
The electrical load management system has been adapted to suit the needs of the rural populations of Mediterranean partner countries. In these ways, then tested and validated in the field supplying an actual rural village, the concept of multi-user solar hybrid grids has been brought to a new level of state of the art.
The main strategic objectives of the 'Cost-efficient and reliable rural electrification schemes for south mediterranean countries based on multi user solar hybrid grids (Cresmed) project were:
- to apply cost effective renewable energy (RE) solutions in order to provide electricity for rural areas and villages produced by multi user solar hybrid systems (MSGs) combining solar and other locally available energy sources using local micro grids, and
- to develop management tools in order to operate rationally a larger number of MSGs in a region by satellite and other communication technologies.
While the current technology already developed and implemented for multi-user solar hybrid grids is performing well in applications around Europe, the improvements in the Cresmed project give additional value to both the user and the operator of such state of the art systems. The power conditioning unit has been adapted so that it can perform reliably in the hot and dusty weather conditions of the Mediterranean partner countries.
A remote tele-monitoring system has been developed so that the operation and maintenance can gather data and information for monitoring without having to visit the site as often to ensure reliable performance.
The electrical load management system has been adapted to suit the needs of the rural populations of Mediterranean partner countries. In these ways, then tested and validated in the field supplying an actual rural village, the concept of multi-user solar hybrid grids has been brought to a new level of state of the art.
