Estudio de factibilidad técnico-económica de un sistema de generación híbrido para zonas no interconectadas de Colombia

Abstract

In Colombia, about one million people do not have access to energy from the national interconnected system. These people live distributed in more than 1800 settlements or communities that are spread throughout the country, within areas called Non-interconnected Areas (ZNI). The vast majority live on the pacific coast, in rural areas with access to electricity based on off-grid fossil energy systems. These systems are expensive and produce greenhouse gases and air pollutants. This study “TFM” has a foundation in the United Nations-SDGs- Sustainable Development Goals, target number seven "Affordable and clean energy", and the current national plan of development of the Colombia government (PND_2018-2022). People living in ZNI need secure and affordable energy to break the energy poverty cycle that has held back socio-economic progress. Renewable energies have proved to be a way to provide secure and affordable electricity access. Renewable technologies have been progressing from the last decade leading a decrease in capital and operation costs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of replacing current autonomous generation systems with fossil fuels with a hybrid solar photovoltaic and fuel cell renewable generation system, in three selected towns of ZNI areas. TFM focuses on designing the main equipment of the hybrid generation system, estimates its capital and operation costs, then evaluates the leveled cost of electricity on each town. Finally, makes comparing the price of renewable electricity against the current costs of diesel fuel-based systems. The estimated average electricity price of 0.38 USD/Kwh coming from the proposed hybrid system is not yet economically competitive compared to the average 0.32 USD/Kwh of fossil fuel generation. It is recommendable to make a new evaluation of the cost of capital of these technologies in the medium term. Its expected improvements in materials, efficiencies in the next coming years will generate expectations for the implementation of this type of renewable and sustainable energy in the non-interconnected areas- ZNI of Colombia.