Assessment of Solar-Biomass Using MCDM Technique: Case Study of Ranchi, India

Abstract

In India, the adoption of sustainable and efficient renewable energy systems has become imperative for achieving sustainable development. Nowadays in India about 60% of the population has access to grid power, but due to the unreliable nature of electricity users, it is still necessary to rely on biofuels such as solar and animal waste for everyday activities like heating and cooking. With over 370 million tons of biomass produced annually in India, there is a significant market opportunity for biomass boilers in the country. This research paper proposes a hybrid system comprising of solar, and biomass from an end-user perspective. The proposed hybrid system has been modelled and analyzed using multisim software. Furthermore, the study assesses the feasibility of the proposed low-cost hybrid power system blueprint for the outlying regions of Baheya village, Ranchi, India, by utilizing the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique. It has been observed that the total per unit cost of a hybrid system, which is Rs. 1.76, is lower compared to the individual per unit costs of solar and biomass plants, which are Rs. 1.628 and Rs. 0.433, respectively. The analysis shows that the proposed hybrid system is a reliable solution for providing electricity in the Baheya village.