Designing a Small-Scale Renewable Energy System

This outline details the steps involved in designing a small-scale renewable energy system, along
with relevant formulas for calculations.
I. Define System Requirements
 A. Energy Demand:
o 1. Load Assessment:
 Identify all appliances and devices you plan to power.
 Determine the wattage (W) of each appliance (refer to appliance labels).
 Estimate daily usage duration (hours/day) for each appliance.
o 2. Total Daily Energy Consumption:
 Formula: Total Daily Energy Consumption (Wh) = Σ (Appliance Wattage
x Daily Usage Duration)
 B. System Location:
o 1. Identify your location: (city, state)
o 2. Research local renewable resource availability:
 Solar: Average daily sunshine hours ([source: government websites or
solar resource maps])
 Wind: Average wind speed data ([source: government websites or wind
resource maps])
 Microhydro: Streamflow data (may require contacting local water
authorities)
II. Select Renewable Energy Technology
 Consider factors like:
o Resource availability at your location (from step IB2)
o System complexity and maintenance requirements
o Budgetary constraints
 Common small-scale renewable options:
o Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
o Wind Turbines
o Micro-hydropower Systems
 o Energy from Waste Systems (Biogas)
III. System Sizing Calculations
A. Solar PV System
 1. Daily Energy Production:
o Formula: Daily Energy Production (Wh) = (Average Daily Sunshine Hours x
Panel Wattage x System Derating Factor)
 System Derating Factor: Accounts for real-world losses (0.7 - 0.9)
 2. Number of Solar Panels:
o Formula: Number of Panels = Total Daily Energy Consumption (Wh) / Daily
Energy Production (Wh/panel)
 3. Battery Bank Capacity:
o Formula: Battery Capacity (Ah) = Total Daily Energy Consumption (Wh) /
Battery Depth of Discharge ( DoD ) x System Voltage (V)
 Battery Depth of Discharge (DoD): Usable capacity (typically 0.5 - 0.8)
 4. Inverter Size:
o Select an inverter with a capacity exceeding your peak power needs (sum of
appliance starting wattages).
B. Wind Turbine System
 1. Wind Power Density:
o Requires wind speed data (from step IB2) - consult resources for specific
formulas.
 2. Wind Turbine Selection:
o Choose a turbine with a power rating suitable for your wind resource and energy
needs.
 3. Battery Bank and Inverter Sizing:
o Similar calculations to Solar PV systems (III.A.3 & III.A.4)
C. Micro-hydropower System
 1. Hydropower Potential:
o Requires streamflow data and site characteristics - consult a professional for
proper assessment.
  2. Microhydro Turbine Selection:
o Choose a turbine based on water flow rate and desired power output.
 3. Battery Bank and Inverter Sizing:
o Similar calculations to Solar PV systems (III.A.3 & III.A.4)
IV. System Components Selection
 Select appropriate balance-of-system (BOS) components based on your chosen
technology (e.g., charge controller for solar PV).
V. System Installation and Safety
 Installation should be performed by qualified professionals, adhering to safety
regulations.
VI. Maintenance and Monitoring
 Develop a maintenance plan for your system to ensure optimal performance.
 Monitor system performance to identify any potential issues.
Note: These are simplified formulas. Real-world design may involve additional factors and
require specialized software for comprehensive system modeling. Consulting with a renewable
energy professional is recommended for complex systems or those requiring permits/grid
interconnection.
Sample Small-Scale Solar PV System Design with Calculations
This example outlines the design process for a solar PV system to power a small cabin located
outside Cebu City, Philippines.
I. Define System Requirements
 A. Energy Demand:
o Appliances: 2 LED bulbs (10W each), 1 small refrigerator (100W), Laptop
(60W), Phone charger (5W)
o Daily Usage: Lights (4 hours), Refrigerator (12 hours), Laptop (4 hours), Phone
charger (1 hour)
1. Total Daily Energy Consumption:
o Lights: 2 bulbs * 10W/bulb * 4 hours/day = 80 Wh
o Refrigerator: 100W * 12 hours/day = 1200 Wh
o Laptop: 60W * 4 hours/day = 240 Wh
o Phone charger: 5W * 1 hour/day = 5 Wh
o Total Daily Consumption: 80 Wh + 1200 Wh + 240 Wh + 5 Wh = 1525 Wh
 B. System Location:
o Cebu City, Philippines
o Average Daily Sunshine Hours (Cebu City): 5.5 hours ([source: Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA)])
II. Select Renewable Energy Technology
 Considering Cebu City's sunshine hours, solar PV is a suitable choice.
III. System Sizing Calculations
 A. Daily Energy Production:
o Assuming a 250W solar panel and a 0.8 derating factor: Daily Energy Production
= 5.5 hours/day * 250W/panel * 0.8 = 1100 Wh/day/panel

 B. Number of Solar Panels:

Number of Panels = 1525 Wh/day (consumption) / 1100 Wh/day/panel = 1.4 panels (round up to
2)
 C. Battery Bank Capacity:
o Choosing a 12V system and a 50% depth of discharge (DoD): Battery Capacity
(Ah) = 1525 Wh / 0.5 x 12V = 254 Ah
 D. Inverter Size:
o Appliance starting wattages: Lights: 2 bulbs * 10W/bulb = 20W Refrigerator
(refer to appliance manual, typical range 300W-800W) - assume 500W for this
example Laptop: 60W Phone charger: 5W Total Starting Wattage: 20W + 500W
+ 60W + 5W = 585W
o Select an inverter with a capacity exceeding 585W. A 1000W inverter would be
suitable.
IV. System Components Selection
 2 x 250W Solar Panels
 2 x 12V Deep-cycle Batteries (total capacity exceeding 254 Ah)
 12V 1000W Inverter
 Solar Charge Controller (rated for system voltage and current)
 Cables, connectors, mounting hardware
V. System Design Figure
A basic system design diagram would typically show the following:
 Solar panels connected in series or parallel (depending on voltage requirements)
 The solar panels connect to the solar charge controller
 The charge controller connects to the battery bank (positive and negative terminals)
 The inverter connects to the battery bank (positive and negative terminals)
 The inverter feeds the AC loads (appliances)

As you can see in the image, the solar panels are connected in series or parallel
depending on voltage requirements. The solar panels then connect to the solar charge
controller, which regulates the flow of electricity to the battery bank. The charge
controller protects the batteries from overcharging and ensures they are properly
charged. The inverter converts the DC electricity from the battery bank to AC electricity
that can be used by your appliances.

VI. Additional Notes

 This is a simplified example, and real-world installations may require additional
components like fuses, grounding systems, and disconnects.
 Professional consultation is recommended for ensuring safety, proper system sizing based
on specific needs, and compliance with local regulations.