Techno-economic study of a photovoltaic power plant besides the railway track for rural uses in Bangladesh

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) energy has emerged as a beneficial source when considering several factors, such as clean power generation, the reduction of glasshouse gas emissions, and the cost-competitiveness of power supply compared to other energy sources. Bangladesh is utilising rooftop areas for PV installations for homes, but ground-mounted installations cannot fully utilise this promising source due to extreme land constraints. If PV systems could be installed along the embankment of a railway track, it would provide a unique opportunity for renewable power generation. Thus, the aim of the study is to conduct a techno-economic study of a grid-connected photovoltaic plant besides the railway track for rural applications in Bangladesh. The PVsyst modelling tool has been utilised to investigate the performance of a 128 kW power plant. The proposed plant has an annual output of 186.3 MWh, a capital cost of US$124,688, an annualised cost of US$4,748, a levelized cost of US$0.052/kWh, a performance ratio of 77.3%, and a payback period of 8.4 years. In its 25-year lifespan, the facility may cut CO2 emissions by 2,185 tnes. The study demonstrates the possibility of multi-megawatt solar power generation along the railway tracks throughout the country. The findings of this study can be used to enhance solar power generation in Bangladesh and other countries, especially where land is scarce.

Keywords

• Photovoltaic
• Railway track
• Techno-economic study
• Power generation
• CO2 emissions