Feasibility of Solar PV-Powered DC System for Residential Electrification�A Comparative Study

Abstract

Renewable energy resources have the potential to provide long-lasting solutions to the energy problems faced by a nation. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system is one of the most widely used renewable sources among them. It is more viable to use the power generated from a PV source, as it generates DC power, and this eliminates the costs involved in inverters, AC�DC rectifiers and AC�DC converters inside appliances. Considering this background, this paper reports a study on the feasibility of solar-powered DC system for typical residential electrifications. The study involves detailed evaluation and analysis of cost and loss on an experimental laboratory prototype PV-powered DC house connected with typical residential DC loads. The comparative study has been carried out on alternative solar-powered systems considering both AC or DC distribution system wirings and AC or DC loads. In the design and analysis, the battery and conductor sizing issues are also addressed. The analysis also includes the sharing of power between solar PV system and battery. The detailed comparative evaluations of cost and losses among the various alternative solar power distribution systems highlight the efficient operation of solar-powered DC systems with residential DC loads. � 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.