Title: Financial feasibility of solar PV lanterns for households of a remote village cluster without access to electricity

Authors: Devendra Kumar Doda; Mahesh Bundele; Amit Shrivastava; Tara Chandra Kandpal

Addresses: Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Poornima University, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302022, India ' Department of Computer Engineering, Poornima College of Engineering, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302022, India ' Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Poornima University, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302022, India ' Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016, India

Abstract: In this study, the financial feasibility assessment of adopting state-of-the-art designs of solar PV lanterns by the households of a remote village cluster in the state of Rajasthan, India has been undertaken. LED-based solar PV lanterns are expected to save kerosene and meet their lighting energy demand. Based on a survey of the village cluster, the household level requirement of solar PV lanterns (three numbers each with a 3-W LED lamp), annual kerosene saving (approximately 100 litres) and the values of several measures of financial performance include discounted payback period (merely 4.7 years), net present value (Rs. 11263/-) and benefit to cost ratio (2.37) has been estimated. From a financial perspective an investment in the solar PV lanterns by a household appears to be quite attractive and may be explored by energy service companies. The results of detailed calculation undertaken have been presented in the paper and discussed.

Keywords: environmental emissions; financial feasibility analysis; lighting energy demand; payback period; solar PV lantern; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2021.116865

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2021 Vol.20 No.3/4, pp.354 - 365

Received: 06 Dec 2019
Accepted: 14 Oct 2020
Published online: 05 Aug 2021 *

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