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Decentralized energy planning model for optimum resource allocation with a case study of the domestic sector of rurals in Nepal
Author(s) -
Joshi Bharati,
Bhatti T. S.,
Bansal N. K.,
Rijal K.,
Grover P. D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4440150109
Subject(s) - constraint (computer aided design) , hydropower , energy planning , agriculture , biogas , kerosene , electricity , environmental economics , resource (disambiguation) , energy source , environmental science , business , water resource management , waste management , engineering , renewable energy , geography , computer science , economics , coal , computer network , electrical engineering , mechanical engineering , chemistry , archaeology , organic chemistry
The paper is concerned with the development of a simplified linear model which attempts to optimize the cost function of an energy supply system consisting of a mix of energy resources and conversion devices, each of which may have a constraint with respect to availability, efficiency and cost. The model has been applied in three villages, from three different physiographic zones of Nepal, for which detailed data were collected and analysed. The results of the study show that the optimized use of different energy sources in different regions is strongly dependent on demographic and climatic parameters. For hill villages, hydropower could become the cheapest source of energy if technical options were provided, but until then more efficient use of wood is the only viable solution. Commercial sources like kerosene and LPG are not likely to play any significant role in hill and mountain villages. On the other hand, the use of biogas is economically most feasible in Terai village. The availability of kerosene rules out wood or agriculture waste as feasible solutions for cooking energy needs, as this village is closer to the Indian border and has good road access.