A Self-contained Solar-Hydro Micro Power Plant for Uninterrupted Supply in all Weather Conditions

在这个项目中，我们将建造第一座太阳能-水力混合发电厂及其配电网络，为孟加拉国吉大港山区（CHT）一个拥有约60 - 70户家庭和商店的偏远村庄提供清洁、负担得起和安全的电力。该系统解决了这一地区的能源贫困问题，并将使更多的生产活动能够帮助提高居民的生活质量，孟加拉国是南亚国家电力普及率最低的国家之一，这严重限制了其发展前景。孟加拉国在发援会官方发展援助受援国名单上被列为最不发达国家，几乎每10个居民中就有1个生活在赤贫中。在吉大港山区，与其他65%人口居住的农村社区一样，贫困率可能高达35%（2016年家庭收入和支出调查）。孟加拉国只有大约59%的农村人口能够用上电，最贫困的五分之一人口中这一比例低至37%（达卡致敬，2019年4月21日）。由于该地区的丘陵地形，CHT远远落后于全国农村平均接入率，这使得它无法接入国家电网。该社区严重依赖煤油、蜡烛、粪饼和木柴等低质量燃料作为能源。无法获得现代能源阻碍了农村地区的潜在发展和增长，造成了贫困陷阱，并剥夺了农村居民改善生计的机会。虽然太阳能家庭系统（SHS）已经变得流行，但是它们在提供可靠的能量方面存在不足，因为它们受到天气条件的限制，需要昂贵的电池更换并且供应低容量的短持续时间的能量。我们的技术提供了一种改进的离网解决方案，以满足为农村居民（包括生活在最偏远和贫困地区的居民）提供安全和负担得起的清洁可再生能源的能源三难困境。该系统结合了太阳能和水力发电，以抵消不利天气条件的影响;允许24小时不间断的能源供应;避免使用电池;并且可扩展。由于该系统将由中央维修，因此成本较低，更方便使用，特别是对老年人，妇女和残疾居民，并尽量减少过时和浪费。即使是最贫穷的家庭也将被连接起来，并可以选择消费他们能负担得起的东西。这确保了包容性。能源成本将低于使用煤油，与SHS相当。该系统可以很容易地与灌溉和/或饮用水过滤系统集成，以获得额外的好处。

In this project, we will build the first hybrid solar-hydro power plant and its distribution network to provide clean, affordable and secure electricity to a remote village with approximately 60-70 households and shops in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh. The system addresses energy poverty in this area and will empower more productive activities to help uplift residents' quality of life.Bangladesh has among the lowest national electricity access rate in South Asia, which severely limits its development prospects. Classified as a least developed country on the DAC list of ODA recipients, almost 1 in 10 inhabitants of Bangladesh live in extreme poverty. In CHT District, like other rural communities where 65% of the population live, poverty rate can be as high as 35% (HIES 2016). Only about 59% of the rural population in Bangladesh has access to electricity, with the percentage being as low as 37% among the poorest quintiles (Dhaka Tribute, 21-April-2019). CHT lags far behind the national average rural access rate due to the region's hilly terrains, which make it inaccessible to national grid. The community relies heavily on low-quality fuel such as kerosene, candles, dung cakes and firewood for energy. Lack of access to modern energy impedes potential development and growth of rural areas, creates a poverty trap and deprives rural residents of improved livelihoods. While solar-home-systems (SHS) have become popular, they fall short in providing reliable energy because they are limited by weather conditions, need expensive battery replacement and supply short duration of energy of low capacity. The unaffordable maintenance costs prompt high obsoletion and hence waste.Our technology presents an improved off-grid solution to meet the energy trilemma of supplying secure and affordable access to clean renewable energy to rural residents, including those living in most remote and disadvantaged areas. The system combines solar and hydro power to offset the impact of unfavourable weather conditions; allows 24-hour uninterrupted energy supply; avoids batteries; and is scalable. Since the system will be centrally maintained, it is less costly, more user friendly particularly for elderly, women and disabled residents, and minimises obsoletion and waste. Even the poorest households will be connected and are given the choice to consume what they can afford. This ensures inclusiveness. Energy costs will be lower than using kerosene and comparable to SHS. The system can be easily integrated with an irrigation and/or drinking water filtering system for attaining additional benefits.