Community microgrid: an approach towards positive energy community in an urban area of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract The pollution and toxic greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel combustion are troubling as global energy demand continues to rise. To mitigate the consequences of global warming, a transition to sustainable energy sources is necessary. This manuscript presents a feasible community microgrid design in Hazaribagh, Dhaka based on meteorological data that leads to photovoltaic installation on the rooftop of a local community building. This study shows a microgrid design of a system with the lowest cost of energy and a large renewable fraction, which is analysed using the HOMER Pro software. Using real-time data, analysis of the system cost, cost of energy, renewable fraction, unmet load, energy purchased and energy sold is discussed. A suitable case for electrification is also identified and presented for the selected community. The proposed case yields a cost of energy of $0.0357/kWh, which is 52% less than the current tariff rate, with a 70% renewable fraction. This study will provide people in this community with more green energy at a lower cost; in addition, this designed microgrid sells additional energy to the grid to avoid possible power outages. The potential for a positive energy community is also investigated in terms of energy consumption and renewable output of the planned microgrid.