Optimization of decentralized energy systems using biomass resources for rural electrification in developing countries

摘要

This research presents an optimization model describing decentralized energy systems for rural electrification based on local biomass resources, looking forward the improvement of electricity access conditions in rural areas in developing countries. Access to modern energy in rural areas is a basic component in order to improve living conditions of poor people in developing countries and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The contribution of energy to rural development in developing countries has been scarcely addressed by studies on energy systems using energy models based on bottom-up approaches. Current energy models primarily focus on system's technical and economic performance, as well as system's potential to mitigate carbon emissions, giving less importance to income and energy use differences between rural and urban areas. The purpose of this research looks at the design of a linear programming (LP) optimization model for rural electrification with decentralized energy systems based on local biomass resources, integrating rural/urban differences into the analysis. The performance of the system utilizing agricultural wastes and forest biomass is studied as an alternative to grid extension and utilization of diesel fuel in diesel generators for the areas not interconnected to the grid. The target area corresponds to a region in Colombia, South America, partially covered by the electricity grid and where over 15% of the population has no access to electricity. Inclusion of biomass-based electricity generation into the energy system increased significantly the electricity costs, which rose from 7.4 cents/kWh in the baseline case, to 10.4 cents/kWh in a case considering electricity supply entirely based on local biomass resources. In the same way, the ratio of overrun costs to total costs of the energy system increased from 21% to 44%. On the other hand, greater dependence on local biomass for electricity