Penetration level of un-conventional rural electrification technologies on power networks

The overall electricity access rate is still very low in most sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. The rate is even lower in rural areas where most of the population in these countries lives. One of the main obstacles to rural electrification (RE) is the high cost of laying the distribution infrastructure owing to the dispersed nature of loads and low demand. Thus, electrifying the rural areas needs to be considered holistically and not just on the financial viability. To reduce cost, it is important that un-conventional rural electrification (URE) technologies, which are cheaper than the conventional ones be explored. Un-conventional rural electrification (URE) technologies have been tried successfully in some parts of the world. However, the literature review showed that no work had so far been done with regard to maximum penetration level of these technologies on power transmission networks, especially the Capacitor Coupled Substation (CCS) and Auxiliary Service Voltage Transformers (ASVTs). These two technologies have the ability to tap power directly from high voltage transmission lines and convert it to distribution level single or three phase supply for the purpose of rural electrification. This thesis investigated the adoptability and maximum penetration level of sub-station based URE technologies in power transmission networks with regard to voltage quality, stability, and capacity constraints without steady and transient state voltage violation.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Electrical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Saulo, Michael Juma

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gaunt, C Trevor

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12941

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12941