Integration of Advanced Metering Infrastructure for Mini-Grid Solar PV Systems in Off-Grid Rural Communities (SoAMIRural)

Reviewer 1

S/N

comments

Responses

1

Discuss the term dependable in “dependable capacity of 4879 MW.”

 Dependable capacity is the capacity available for usage from the generated energy, considering that there might be some losses within the generated capacity of 5132MW

Therefore, even in the total generation from the demand of the country, it can only depend on 4879MW, having some loss of 253MW.

2

The main novelty and contribution of this work should be discussed.

1) Maps a conceptual framework (SoAMIRural) for a smart solar PV mini-grid system for rural communities and its advantages in realising SDG 7 in Ghana by 2030.

2) Integrate and explore the prospects of using AMI for load control and management in solar PV mini-grid in rural communities.

3) Perform electric load estimations and needs assessment of a case study rural community. and

4) Convenient services through IoT for power purchase with available service providers (banks, Pos, ATMs) in the rural community.

3

Figure numbering and referencing should be according to formatting should be according to journal formatting style.

Done

4

The purpose of assessments made by Questionnaires and face-to-face interaction should be discussed. The question asked and the results should also be shared in figure or tabular form.

Figure 4.3: showing Priority choice of the community (Source: Authors Construct, 2023)

5

This phrase should be elaborated in more detail “A range of options was given, from which they were asked to choose, per the needs that they prioritise most. The options typified important needs that can be met by access to electricity in the community.”

A range of options was obtained, from which the community opinion leaders selected options from Table 2.1 for the prioritisation needs of the community interactions. The urgent, important options that can aid the community’s economic growth through access to electricity. These needs are Education, Health, Communication, economics, and domestic Activities.

The figure2.3 below shows their preferred urgent needs.

6

This heading needs further discussion in detail “2.2.1 Pseudocode for threshold management”

The community load data collected was used to determine the required generation capacity to be able to manage consumption behaviour; the threshold load classification algorithm was developed and implemented in the AMI application; this algorithm recorded consumption behaviour within a week and capped consumption into a class for sustainability management against supply, the system also gives clearance of 10% usage of actual. This is unique in the load management of the user’s usage off and when out-of-range consumption is in line with generated capacity for developed SoAMIRural. The Pseudocode in 2.2.1 shows how the algorithm is implemented in the application for management

7

Comparative results for the same study with and without AMI are requested. How much energy is saved or consumed and how??

Table 1- Specification of mini grids

Three mini-grid communities in the Oti and Bono East regions of Ghana were visited as case studies for the mini-grid development. The communities include Wayokope, Aglakope and Kudorkope. Table 1 Presents the capacity of the mini-grid and the number of households, and the current impact. These communities’ mini-grid were connected without AMI technology for load monitoring. It was observed that some only function during the day, and others are not functioning due to challenges of automatic system monitoring and classification to meet the generation demand for sustainability.

8

From “Table 11: Solar PV selection matrix”, it is observed that this study is just to select the type of solar PV panels??? If this is so, then what is the novelty of this work?

The study used selection matric to accurately select the right panels that best give system Efficiency (direct sunlight) (%), Low light performance factor, Cost in $/ W, Land area/KW efficiency, and long-life span that supports the sustainability objective of the project.Finally, panels that be integrated with IoT devices for AMI to control consumption for energy conservation and sustainability,

9

Need to include results for simulation-based as well as any hardware system results??

Diagram figure 4.1 shows

10

Figure 4 should include the generation capacity and graph also and potential energy generation for the specific area.

The SoAMIRural conceptual framework generates a total capacity of 24kva and peak demand capacity of 16kva from the load estimation of various households. Figure 4.0, 4.1. and 4.2 shows the implemented SoAMIRural in Yeboahkrom with generated capacity

11

Results include only table 11 and figures 2,3,4. Need more results and discussion in terms of AMI etc

As illustrated in figure 3.0 and 4.1, The AMI system has a Data Collection Platform (DCP) agent as a very important device for AMI solutions; all modules or execution for Data, traffic, and energy transmission are carried out at this stage. All communication within the AMI system starts with smart meters, communicating through a communication medium, either Radio frequency (RF), Zigbee, Powerline communication (PLC), or Dynamic-(PLC). The DCP then collects all incoming data from Data concentrator Unit (DCU) and converts it to the appropriate information for its destination. The generated capacity from the Solar PV (supply-side) and demand side (Consumer Load) is all recorded in SoAMIRural and controlled using the developed algorithm in SoAMIRural to manage and control the end-to-end solution proposed and implemented for rural electrification and sustainability. Finally, introducing a third party within SoAMIRural integrates various facility providers using Application Programming Interface (API) to interact with the energy provider without any challenges and in consumers’ comfort

12

The selection matrixes should also be discussed in detail.

Done in the above

Reviewer 2

ResRe

1

The charging time of mobile phone in table 1&2 are same and different from table 3&4. Similarly with table 5 and 6. Also why authors taken fixed time of a day for mobile phone charging i.e., 5 pm -8pm, explain. 

Table 1,2 and 3 are all commercial sector operators and closed their shops and facilities to go home, thus why their times is 5pm to 8pm.

Table 4,5 and 6, all residential sector that are more famers that comes from their farms to charge their phones and even some commercial sector operators continue charging after getting home. Residential is 5pm to 9pm.

2

 Authors need to include the designing of the solar PV systems based on the load calculated.

Done figure 3.1

3

The complete specifications of the mini-grid solar PV systems should be provided for better clarity and understanding to readers.

Done figure 3.1

4

There is not any information about the generation of Mini-Grid solar PV system and its components.

The study used the selection matrix to accurately select the right panels that best give system Efficiency (direct sunlight) (%), Low light performance factor, Cost in $/ W, Land area/KW efficiency, and long-life span that supports the sustainability objective of the project. Finally, AMI can integrate panels with IoT devices to control energy conservation and sustainability. Figure 3.1 shows the total substation capacity of 24kva generated using the following equipment, 500W Solar PV, 8kva hybrid inverters, lithium-ion battery 5.7kwh and other accessories for the Solar Substation.

5

·         In Table 1 total consumption per day for light outdoors is not correctly mentioned. It needs to be revised.

Total is 930w, number of appliances =8, avg time =29, power rating =50

6

·         Language of the paper needs to be revised. Some grammatical error also needs to be removal like ‘mini-gird’.

Done correction

Components

Size

Solar PV Array

24kW

Battery bank

28.5kWh

Hybrid Inverter

8kVA X 3 =24kVA