I am designing the components of a solar system for use in off-grid communities in rural India. Following this thread, I have learnt a great deal about the various components and optimising their size for each system and wanted to double check that my calculations are correct and seek advice as to optimising the design of the system, specifically the battery size.
First of all, I wish to design a system to provide solar energy to 20 off-grid households in rural India. I wish to charge batteries, for each household and then rent the batteries to the households. For each household, I will purchase two batteries - one to be charged and one to be used. I will simultaneously charge a battery for each household through the one (or multiple?) solar panels.
At this stage, I am seeking a rough guide as to the equipment required and feasibility of the plan in order to complete financial projections. I am wondering whether the above plan is feasible and how I can improve upon the design of the system.
Specifically, I remain particularly unsure about the sizing of the battery storage. For each household, I plan to have two batteries - one is that being charged and one that is being used. From this forum, I have read that batteries (lead acid in particular) require a minimum day reserve capacity of 5 days. Does that still apply to micro-scale batteries? Second, in order to avoid overly draining the batteries, beyond 50%, is it advisable to design a system with twice the battery storage as required? Third, I am wary of designing a system in which there is a significant mismatch between battery size and panel wattage. Specifically, is it advisable to design a system with a singular large solar panel and charge 20 batteries simultaneously, or instead, perhaps a separate solar panel for each battery (or somewhere in between)?
Thanks in advance!
First of all, I wish to design a system to provide solar energy to 20 off-grid households in rural India. I wish to charge batteries, for each household and then rent the batteries to the households. For each household, I will purchase two batteries - one to be charged and one to be used. I will simultaneously charge a battery for each household through the one (or multiple?) solar panels.
At this stage, I am seeking a rough guide as to the equipment required and feasibility of the plan in order to complete financial projections. I am wondering whether the above plan is feasible and how I can improve upon the design of the system.
Specifically, I remain particularly unsure about the sizing of the battery storage. For each household, I plan to have two batteries - one is that being charged and one that is being used. From this forum, I have read that batteries (lead acid in particular) require a minimum day reserve capacity of 5 days. Does that still apply to micro-scale batteries? Second, in order to avoid overly draining the batteries, beyond 50%, is it advisable to design a system with twice the battery storage as required? Third, I am wary of designing a system in which there is a significant mismatch between battery size and panel wattage. Specifically, is it advisable to design a system with a singular large solar panel and charge 20 batteries simultaneously, or instead, perhaps a separate solar panel for each battery (or somewhere in between)?
Thanks in advance!
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