International R&D Collaboration on Photovoltaic Hybrid Systems Within Mini-grids

Sophie Pelland, CanmetENERGY

CETC Number 2011-015 / 2011-03-30

Abstract

Canada has over 300 remote communities that rely primarily on diesel gensets with high generation costs to produce electricity ($0.13-$2.45 per kWh in the Northwest Territories. Meanwhile, electricity generation costs from grid‐connected photovoltaics (PV) range from roughly C$0.38/kWh to C$0.75/kWh and have been decreasing steadily. Thus, for many communities, PV and other renewables present an economic option for both lowering electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

This project investigated technical and non‐technical barriers to large scale integration of photovoltaic systems in remote communities. It built on CanmetENERGY’s expertise developed through previous projects on wind‐diesel and PV hybrid systems, and on Canada’s participation in Task 11 of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems (PVPS) Implementing Agreement on "PV Hybrid Systems within Mini‐grids". This project lead to the development and study of Canada’s first battery‐free PV‐diesel mini‐grid in the Nemiah Valley of British Columbia and to Canadian contributions to IEA PVPS Task 11 reports examining best practices and challenges in PV mini-grid design and operation.

To learn more about CanmetENERGY's activities related to smart grid, visit the Smart Grid section of the website.