Stand alone photovoltaic solar power generation system: A case study for a remote location in Tunisia

The climate of Tunisia, located in North Africa, is favorable to the use of solar energy. This location exhibits some of the highest insolation levels on earth making it an attractive location for photovoltaic (PV) power applications. In comparison to grid power, PV power is still not competitive. However, there are many small, remote locations in Tunisia which rely on diesel generators for electric power. The cost of running these generators can be quite expensive when factoring in fuel availability and transportation costs. It is currently not economically feasible to extend the grid to such locations. The power must be generated locally. The purpose of this work was to analyze the feasibility of PV power generation for such a remote setting. It is shown that the PV generation system can be competitive compared to current diesel powered installations.