Most remote areas don’t normally have electricity; hence, they often need alternative energy sources to light up the entire village and that is where solar energy comes in. Although there are different solar energy options for rural areas, not all of them can give optimal results when installed in the village.
However, we have researched rigorously and found some of the best solar energy for remote areas that is suitable and can perform optimally in the remote areas. Some of them are photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power systems, solar thermal systems, hybrid solar systems, etc. These solar energy sources are effective and efficient and can work optimally in any remote area, irrespective of the demographics.
For more information on the best solar energy for remote areas, keep tabs as we go through this comprehensive guide together.
Best Solar Energy for Remote Areas
In this section, we are going to list and discuss the best solar energy for remote areas. They are
- Photovoltaic systems
- Concentrated solar power systems
- Solar thermal systems
- Hybrid solar systems
- Hydro solar system
- Off-grid solar systems
1. Photovoltaic systems
The photovoltaic system uses solar panels to attract sunlight and thereafter, the system converts the direct current (DC) electricity from the sun to alternating current (AC) by inverters that home appliances use. The solar energy from photovoltaic systems can also be stored in batteries. It is one of the commonest solar energy options for remote areas. It is quite simple to install and maintain.
However, for the photovoltaic system to work optimally, there must be available and high sunlight intensity. The higher the sunlight intensity, the better the photovoltaic system performs.
This solar energy is good for remote areas because it doesn’t depend on a grid, is easy to scale up, has a low maintenance cost, and is eco-friendly. Once your remote area has enough sunlight, the photovoltaic system is a suitable option to consider. Meanwhile, the upfront cost is always a bit high but overtime, you can get value for your money since it has up to a 25-year lifespan.
2. Concentrated solar power systems
This is another solar energy option that is suitable for remote areas. This solar energy generating system involves using mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a receiver, where the sunlight heats a fluid that drives a turbine, engine, etc., to generate electricity. The concentrated solar power systems can generate high temperatures and pressure that can be used to light up a whole community. This solar energy system stores thermal energy in molten salts or other related storage material, which enables the system to generate electricity beyond daylight hours.
However, it is important to note that concentrated solar power systems are complex and very costly and require enough landmass and water bodies before they can work. So, if you live in a remote desert area, this solar energy system is not suitable for you.
3. Solar thermal systems
Solar thermal systems are another type of solar energy that is good for remote areas. This system involves using collectors to absorb solar radiation and transfer it to a fluid. The fluid here can be water or air, which later circulates through pipes or ducts. With this system, hot water, space heating or even cooling for buildings can be generated. This system is relatively cheap, simple, reliable and easy to maintain. Solar thermal systems are eco-friendly because they reduce the dependency on fossil fuels to generate electricity.
However, this system has limited application and cannot generate electricity independently and they need backup systems or storage tanks for cloudy or cold days. If this system has efficient thermal energy storage, it can store extra heat when sunlight is at its peak. The stored energy can then be used to generate electricity during cloudy days, resulting in reliable energy.
4. Hybrid solar systems
Just as the name implies, the hybrid solar system combines two or more solar energy technologies for optimal performance. The hybrid solar systems can use PV panels to generate electricity and solar thermal collectors to provide heating or cooling. Another instance is the integration of other renewable energy sources, such as wind, biomass, or hydro, or diesel generators to supplement the solar power output.
Hybrid solar systems are more stable and reliable than standalone solar energy systems, but they are always more complex, expensive, and difficult to install and maintain. So, if your area doesn’t have enough resources to install and maintain a solar system, then it is not a suitable option because it is expensive.
5. Hydro Solar System
A hydro-solar system integrates solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a hydropower system (either small-scale hydro turbines, dams, or pumped hydro storage). The two systems work together to ensure a stable energy supply. Solar energy works best during sunny hours but drops at night or on cloudy days and hydropower can generate electricity consistently (day and night), but in some cases, water flow may vary with seasons. Hence, combining them creates a complementary system that balances out energy fluctuations. How it works is that solar panels generate electricity during the day while the hydropower plant continues producing power even when there is little or no sunlight. Then, in pumped hydro storage systems, excess solar energy can pump water into a higher reservoir, which is later released to generate hydroelectricity when demand rises. Finally, both sources feed into a microgrid or national grid, ensuring constant energy availability. This method is cost-effective and easy to maintain and suitable for remote areas.
6. Off-grid solar systems
This is the last solar energy system that is suitable for remote areas on our list. The off-grid solar systems don’t depend on the main utility grid to provide power to remote locations. The off-grid can use any of the solar energy systems that we discussed above or even a combination of solar energy, depending on the site conditions and the load requirement. This system is actually suitable for electrification of remote areas but sometimes it may face technical or even financial challenges if the remote area is not financially independent enough to foot the bills.
Conclusion
The best solar energy for remote areas is photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power systems, solar thermal systems, hybrid solar systems, hydro solar systems, off-grid solar systems, etc. These solar energy systems are reliable and can function optimally. However, some of these systems are expensive and difficult to maintain. So, it is left for you to choose the one that is most suitable for your area.