Off-grid photovoltaic systems as a solution for the ambient pollution avoidance and Iraq’s rural areas electrification

Abstract

The growing demand for local pollution free renewable energy sources in the world considered the solar energy as a one of the important renewable energy technologies and becomes dominant to the renewable energy source being exploited. The paper presents a unique approach to study and analysis off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system in order to provide the required energy for a one fold household in Diyala State, Iraq as well as the CO2 emissions and life cycle (LCC) and economical aspect was considered. The results of the study by depending on site metrological data shows that the unit of electrical cost of (1 kWh) about ($0.51) and this value is not expensive compared to the current unit cost of electricity and becomes effect and encouraged the use the PV system to electrify the rare sites. The average of CO2 emissions get avoidance about 1840 kg/year compared with conventional fuels used in Iraq to generate electricity.