Comparison on DC bus voltage selection and real-time implementation of 24 V DC stand-alone PV system with a remote monitoring feature

Abstract

The remarkable initiatives taken globally to counteract the ever-increasing energy demand have propelled the utilization of solar power. Even then, efficient and stable rural electrification models are yet to be conceptualized. In this context, off-grid photovoltaic (PV) standalone systems are considered to provide reliable solutions to counteract the existing challenges. However, the selection of DC bus voltage in accordance with the distribution distance as well as cost effective remote monitoring system remains an unsolved issue in rural DC power systems. On this note, this work conducts a detailed performance evaluation on different voltages like 12 V, 24 V, and 48 V rural DC power systems with a viewpoint to derive some formidable guidelines for DC bus voltage selection concerning distribution distance. Considering the capital system cost as the major constraint, the proposed work intends to formulate reliable voltage selection guidelines that establish an efficient trade-off between the battery cost and cost incurred for energy losses.