Cost efficient and reliable rural electrification schemes for South Mediterranean countries based on multi user Solar Hybrid grids International Workshop Beirut, Lebanon, 3-4 February 2009 The CRESMED project<br/>Based on the successful implementation of multi-user solar hybrid grids (MSG) in Europe, this project deals with the design of rural village electrification technology and schemes for rural communities, schools, or dispensaries in Mediterranean partner countries. This approach is elaborated in a common effort between partners in the European Union and Mediterranean partner countries. The chosen approach is an integrated approach, covering all aspects required (social, economical, financial and technical) for long term sustainable energy services. The strategic objective of the project is to promote costefficient and reliable renewables for rural areas in particular through: - Renewable energy electricity produced from multi user solar hybrid systems (MSGs) including a high share of renewables (solar and other locally available energy sources) on local micro grids. - Management tools to operate rationally a larger number of MSGs in a region by satellite and other communication technologies. Project structure Work Package 1 Determination of requirements Work Package 2 Strategies for a successful implementation Work Package 3 Developing appropriate technologies Work Package 4 Communication, monitoring and remote control system Work Package 5 Development of MSG design and implementation method Work Package 6 System field test and study Work Package 7 Dissemination of the MSG method<br/><br/>The consortium<br/>Coordinator<br/>Antoine Graillot antoine.graillot@tta.com.es<br/><br/>Spain<br/><br/>France<br/>Nadine Adra n.adra@transenergie.eu<br/><br/>Germany<br/>Georg Bopp georg.bopp@ise.fraunhofer.de Andrea Sasso a.sasso@sasso-italy.com Didier Mayer didier.mayer@ensmp.fr Stéphane Pouffary stephane.pouffary@ademe.fr<br/><br/>Italy France France<br/><br/>Abderrahmane Hamidat hmdab@yahoo.com Mustapha Enzili m.enzili@cder.org.ma Salwa El Moussaoui salwa_elmoussaoui@yahoo.fr<br/><br/>Algeria<br/><br/>Maroc<br/><br/>Morocco<br/><br/>Chafic Abisaid cabisaid@yahoo.com<br/><br/>Lebanon<br/><br/>Khaled Daoud khaled.daoud@nerc.gov.jo<br/><br/>Jordan<br/><br/>http://www.cresmed.org/<br/><br/><br/>Main results<br/>The initial preparation phase of the project was addressing research on technological, socio-economic and institutional issues, in each target country. For each country, the grid connection needs were identified: Morocco: Biggest number of villages without grid connection, about 4000 villages. Algeria: About 700 villages in the south and about 600 villages in the north without grid connection Jordan: About 5000 dwellings without grid connection Lebanon: Weak or destroyed grid and insufficient operational power plants. Many villages with additional diesel generators including informal parallel networks. The Multi-user Solar hybrid Grids (MSG) promoted through this project are systems based on a locally appropriated energy mix including photovoltaic plus wind or micro-hydraulic, and fuel, feeding local micro grids. In order to adapt those systems to the context of the Mediterranean partner countries, different devices have been developed with a particular focus on their robustness (hot temperature, dusty environment). As an example, a 1 kW wind turbine has been designed, assembled and tested under real conditions. An adapted central power unit and an energy dispenser to control the demand have also been conceived. Besides, in order to complement the PV application, a benchmarking has been done to study the possibility of introducing hydro technology in the target countries. Additional communications for remote monitoring were also developed to ensure a cost-efficient maintenance in isolated places difficult to access. The system is composed of: a real time bus communication CAN bus (Controller Area Network), Ethernet Interface for a TCP/IP communication, GPRS connection for remote control, remote control software. Technical specifications for the monitoring, control and communication system have also been developed. In order to have an optimal design of hybrid systems, a MSG design and implementation manual has been prepared. This manual introduces the main configurations for centralised and decentralised hybrid systems. For each case, the principle, equipment characteristics, operating conditions, investment, running costs, lessons learnt, advantages, constraints and possible applications are described. In order to put in application all the knowledge and elements developed in the CRESMED project, a pilot project is being realized in a small community in Northern Morocco. The 20 households will be electrified through a MSG composed by a 6 kWp PV array, the 1 kW wind turbine, and a diesel generator as back-up. For the moment, the executive project and the tenders for material supply have been done and the installation is planned to be realised in March-April 2009. The next steps will be the monitoring and follow-up of the installation during few months.