Enhanced integrated solar home system

Abstract

ABSTRACT: To date, many traditional Solar Home Systems (SHS) have consisted of separate components requiring assembly by trained individuals in the field. While this cannot be secured, many SHSs in remote areas have not fulfilled their expected lifecycles or have not functioned at all. The Integrated Solar Home System (I-SHS) offers a solution: All components such as PV module, charge controller, inverter and wiring, but also support structure and foundation, are integrated and pre-assembled by the manufacturer. This eases installation and reduces costs and failures. Additionally, through the integration of a water tank that serves as a cooling unit as well as the system foundation, a significant reduction of operating cell temperature was achieved, increasing electrical yield by 9–12%. Further improvements have been implemented recently at the Enhanced I-SHS (EI-SHS): The water volume of the tank above the PV module has been increased, thus further reducing operating cell temperature. The power condition units and the storage are placed more in the center of the device, allowing a better water circulation, resulting in less stratification and a better cooling. In the future the EI-SHS will be equipped with an electricity counting device and a payment unit to allow refinance of the system by selling PV electricity. A recently developed satellite monitoring system will be integrated, allowing remote energy metering and billing.