Micro-scale solar assisted district heating system for rural Kyrgyzstan
- The present study investigates the viability of implementing a micro-scale district heating system (DHS) powered by solar energy in the elevated rural regions of Kyrgyzstan. The performance assessment of such a system is achieved through modeling and simulation in Polysun software along with a conducted parametric study to find out the optimal volume of the storage tank to the area of the collectors based on the solar fraction.
A parametric study resulted in the possible system configuration with a solar fraction of 19.4%, achieved with 2,000 collectors (4,060 m2) and a 400 m3 storage tank. The follow-up economic evaluation considers total lifecycle costs, comparing the solar-assisted DHS with an electric and a coal boiler as the auxiliary heater, and an individual stove-based system. The DHS with a coal-fired boiler resulted in a slightly lower levelized cost of heat (LCOH) at 10.03 €-ct/kWh compared to the electric boiler at 11.77 €-ct/kWh, while an individual home coal-fired system is 1.13 €-ct/kWh.
However, LCOH-based energyThe present study investigates the viability of implementing a micro-scale district heating system (DHS) powered by solar energy in the elevated rural regions of Kyrgyzstan. The performance assessment of such a system is achieved through modeling and simulation in Polysun software along with a conducted parametric study to find out the optimal volume of the storage tank to the area of the collectors based on the solar fraction.
A parametric study resulted in the possible system configuration with a solar fraction of 19.4%, achieved with 2,000 collectors (4,060 m2) and a 400 m3 storage tank. The follow-up economic evaluation considers total lifecycle costs, comparing the solar-assisted DHS with an electric and a coal boiler as the auxiliary heater, and an individual stove-based system. The DHS with a coal-fired boiler resulted in a slightly lower levelized cost of heat (LCOH) at 10.03 €-ct/kWh compared to the electric boiler at 11.77 €-ct/kWh, while an individual home coal-fired system is 1.13 €-ct/kWh.
However, LCOH-based energy affordability analysis revealed that the proposed DHS would burden typical households, where the man works and the woman manages the household, exceeding income by 74% (with electric boiler) and 48% (with coal-fired boiler).
Therefore, the study underscores the need for careful economic consideration in solar thermal projects, especially in low-income areas. To facilitate successful implementation in such regions, securing subsidies or financial support during the project's implementation stage is essential to maintain the affordability of these systems for the local population.…
![show more show more](/opus4-haw/layouts/opus4/img/arrow_down.png)
![show less show less](/opus4-haw/layouts/opus4/img/arrow_up.png)