Significant factors affecting the selection of rational options for power supply in an off-grid zone

Melentiev Energy Systems Institute of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: nord@isem.irk.ru

Abstract

The paper presents a short characteristic of an off-grid zone in the eastern regions of the Russian Federation. The main problems of power supply to consumers in this zone are described, and possible options for solving them are provided. A methodological approach and model tools to estimate the efficiency of alternative options of power supply to off-grid consumers are described. The factors affecting the selection of a rational option of power supply in the off-grid zone are classified. We show the interconnection between the main significant factors (availability of grid infrastructure, local fuel resources, complexity of fuel delivery logistics, characteristics of accessible power-generating equipment, and environmental constraints) and their impact on economic indicators of alternative options. Based on the systematized results of long-term studies, we present a scheme designed to select a rational option of power supply to a particular off-grid consumer according to characteristics of the described factors. Keywords: Off-grid consumers, alternative options, impact of factors, economic indicators, methodological approach, simulation models, economic efficiency.