Characterizing Supply Reliability Through the Synergistic Integration of VRE towards Enhancing Electrification in Kenya
Denis Juma1, Josiah Munda2, Charles Kabiri3
1Denis Juma, Department Electrical Engineering, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
2Josiah Munda, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
3Charles Kabiri, African Centre of Excellence in Energy for Sustainable Development, College of Science & Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Manuscript received on 23 May 2024 | Revised Manuscript received on 13 June 2024 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 June 2024 | Manuscript published on 30 June 2024 | PP: 60-70 | Volume-13 Issue-5, June 2024 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.E448513050624 | DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.E4485.13050624
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Decentralized electrical power systems, driven by variable renewable energy sources such as solar PV and wind, have the potential to provide accessible and sustainable energy, contributing to the realization of a zero-carbon transition. However, these sources are susceptible to extreme weather conditions, presenting a challenge to the reliability of the power system. With abundant resources and a significant rural population lacking access to electricity, Africa has emerged as a key area for research on variable renewable energy-based electricity generation. Despite this focus, there remains a substantial gap in understanding at regional-scale the potential and variability of solar and wind power across various time scales, as well asthe impact of available resource synergy. Thisstudy aims to bridge this knowledge gap by conducting comprehensive simulations of hybrid wind and solar energy systems, both on-grid and off-grid, across 20 geographically diverse locations in Kenya. Using high-resolution hourly time step data, we examine the effect of resource complementarity on system reliability at varying time scales: daily, monthly and annually. The study findings shows the available VRE resource exhibit moderate tendency for complementarity, and optimizing their deployment can reduce hourly variability by 20%, significantly enhancing supply reliability, especially in the northern and eastern regions.
Keywords: Variable Renewable Energy Sources, Complementarity, Adequacy, Reliability, Loss of Load Probability, Energy-mix Strategy
Scope of the Article: Electrical and Electronics