MSc. SET Theses and Dissertations (2024)

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Browsing MSc. SET Theses and Dissertations (2024) by Author "Nyangoka, I. K."

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    A Framework for sizing solar PV systems adaptable to off grid areas
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Nyangoka, I. K.
    Solar PV sizing is the process of determining the quantity and capacity of solar PV system components to meet a given energy demand. This process is needed to ensure that the components are not undersized resulting in insufficient energy or oversized increasing the system cost. There are several solar PV sizing frameworks currently in use in the market such as intuitive, numerical, and analytical frameworks. However, these frameworks have neglected some key adaptability factors unique to off-grid areas such as the ability of the household to pay and the type of roofing structure. This neglect has seen development of solar PV systems that are beyond the budget of most households in off-grid areas and with specifications that technically inhibit their effective use in the setup. Therefore, for enhanced adaptability, there is need to develop a new solar PV sizing framework that considers the unique adaptability factors of off grid areas. This study identified these unique adaptability factors and investigated how they influence the size of a solar PV system. Through the modification of the exiting numerical sizing framework, these adaptability factors were integrated in the sizing process within the context of this study. It was established that by integrating these factors, the resultant PV systems were more adaptable to off-grid areas in terms of cost, mobility, durability and reliability.