Photovoltaic energy generation in rural homes in the province of Cañar

Abstract

The dwindling supply of fossil fuels and their detrimental environmental effects are propelling humanity towards exploring renewable and sustainable energy alternatives. This study seeks to dimension an independent system for electrical energy generation using photovoltaic panels in rural residences of the Cañar province, situated in southern Ecuador. The research, conducted through a quantitative analysis, primarily targets areas where public utilities struggle to provide electricity or where the economic viability of network expansion projects is questionable. Focusing on a socially-oriented dwelling with a daily energy consumption of 9,444 Wh/day, the study calculates the required quantity of photovoltaic panels, charge controller, inverter, and batteries necessary to meet the household’s energy demands. Agricultural production areas served as the foundation for this study. The findings indicate that a configuration of 9 photovoltaic panels with a rating of 375W each, accompanied by a 48V charge controller, a 48V inverter, and 12 batteries, proved sufficient to cover 120% of the daily demand of 9.44 kWh/day.