Reliability Evaluation and Performance of Hybrid Photovoltaic Energy Systems for Rural Electrification Using Markov Process

Abstract

Rural electrification is a critical global challenge, and hybrid photovoltaic (PV) energy systems have emerged as a promising solution to provide reliable and sustainable power sources to remote and off-grid communities. This chapter focuses on the evaluation of the Reliability and Performance of hybrid PV Energy systems for rural electrification through the application of Markov processes. The book chapter analyzes the integration of PV panels with other energy resources, such as battery and diesel-generator set, to create robust and efficient energy systems tailored to the specific needs of rural areas. The application of Markov processes allows for a systematic evaluation of the system’s reliability by modeling various states and transitions. Based on the failure rate, repair time of the components of the system, the Reliability Indices such as LOLP and EENS is calculated to assess the Reliability of different configurations (PV-only, diesel-only, PV/diesel, PV/battery, PV/diesel/battery, and diesel/battery). © 2024 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All right reserved.