Cost analysis comparison between photovoltaic solar and conventional power for supplying electricity in a remote village in Egypt

Egypt has a considerable number of widely scattered small rural satellites, particularly desert communities that are suffering from lack of energy. Sources of energy are generally of low quality and, moreover, inefficiently used. Current energy practices in these communities are either burning agricultural residues and dried animal dung, using kerosene lamps and stoves, and for the more wealthy people using diesel generators in spite of the high cost of fuel transport and low maintenance levels. For such remote and desert communities, PV power sources are regarded as both very attractive and cost effective with competitive merits at the present PV cost, and PV should play an important role in supplying the said communities with their energy needs in a most cost effective manner. This paper addresses such issues and performs a cost analysis comparison between solar PV power and other conventional power sources to supply electricity to a remote village in Egypt.