Pico-Solar Energy Systems for Lighting in Rural Areas of Bangladesh

Pico-solar energy systems have greatly enhanced the rural electrification program in the many developing countries where grid connection is not available in remote locations. Such small photovoltaic systems are becoming... [ view full abstract ]

Pico-solar energy systems have greatly enhanced the rural electrification program in the many developing countries where grid connection is not available in remote locations. Such small photovoltaic systems are becoming increasingly popular due to their low cost and environment-friendly features. Pico-solar energy systems are not only lighting up homes but also contributing a lot to the economic development of the society. The size of systems depends on the load requirement of remote houses. Load estimation and system sizing are very important for designing a solar home system using these pico photovoltaic systems. These pico-solar systems are used for lighting and running some small DC home appliances. The size of the panel and battery depends on the user’s demand for electricity. This paper will discuss the detail of load estimation and system sizing of three pico-solar energy systems for houses in remote area of Bangladesh. Some examples of such deployed systems in Bangladesh are also included in this paper. Moreover, modeling and optimization of the designed pico-solar energy systems are done using HOMER software and simulation results are presented. Such systems can also be used in remote locations in Canada.