Feasibility study of a hybrid solar photovoltaic-biomass system in El Cedral, El Paraíso, Honduras

Authors

Lanza Martínez, Ana Sofía

Solís Fajardo, Andrés David

Villatoro Flores, Héctor Fernando

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Introduction: Not having a continuous and safe electricity supply hinders the development of basic human and labor activities. The objective of this research is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of a hybrid solar photovoltaic-biomass system for the generation of electricity in a coffee mill and residential self-consumption to supply electricity to a producer in the community of El Cedral, department of El Paraíso, Honduras. Methods: For the study, load profiles were carried out to determine the demand and electricity consumption of the home and coffee processing. Considering the energy resources available in the area, the scenarios to be studied were dimensioned, analyzing the technical and economic feasibility of each one of them. With this information, the scenarios were compared, and the environmental advantages of its installation were analyzed. Results: The daily consumption of the house is 7.13 kWh and 9.43 kWh. The hybrid system managed to cover energy consumption and 25.43 kg of CO2 was emitted per year due to the energy change. Conclusions: Two of the three proposed scenarios presented technical feasibility with levelized energy costs (LCOE) lower than the current residential electricity tariff in Honduras corresponding to 0.20 $ / kWh, also, they presented sufficient area for their installation. Finally, the kilograms of CO2 no longer emitted into the atmosphere due to the change from use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to feed a pulper were calculated.