A feasibility study of a residential photovoltaic system in Cameroon

• Published in: Sustainable energy technologies and assessments Vol. 17; pp. 38 - 49
• Main Authors: Abanda, F.H., Manjia, M.B., Enongene, K.E., Tah, J.H.M., Pettang, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Building energy efficiency; Energy; Fuel poverty; PV-systems; Residential buildings; PV-systems; Building energy efficiency; Energy; Fuel poverty; Residential buildings
• ISSN: 2213-1388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seta.2016.08.002

•For a PV-system on a typical house in Cameroon:•An average unit electricity cost is €0.52kWh−1, higher than the unit cost of residential grid electricity.•A daily emissions savings is 3769.2gCO2 using PV-system instead of grid electricity. This paper presents a feasibility study of stand-alone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for the electrification of three residential case study buildings (T4, T5 and T6) in the capital city of Yaoundé, Cameroon. The system was sized taking into account the load of the buildings and the available energy from the sun. The power, area of PV modules and daily energy generated by the PV for T4, T5 and T6 were respectively determined as: 2103W, 14m2 and 9.8kWh/day; 3779W, 25.2m2 and 17.6kWh/day; and 2766W, 18.4m2 and 12.9kWh/day. The battery bank capacity, size of inverter and controller were respectively obtained as: 40,323Wh, 635W and 93A for T4; 72,433Wh, 795W and 156A for T5; and 53,017Wh, 826W and 114A for T6. The life cycle cost and annualized life cycle cost (ALCC) of the systems were respectively found to be: €15,714 and €1039 for T4; €27,227and €1800 for T5; and €20,006 and €1322 for T6. The average unit electricity cost for T4, T5 and T6 was respectively determined to be €0.52kWh−1, €0.50kWh−1 and €0.51kWh−1, higher than the unit cost of residential grid electricity in Cameroon.