Solar-Battery System Design for Rural Indian Hostel
Researchers from multiple Indian institutions have presented a simulation-based design and techno-economic analysis of a stand-alone solar photovoltaic (SAPV) system with battery storage for a government hostel building in Fatehpur, India. Published in Discover Mechanical Engineering, the study evaluates the technical performance, economic feasibility, and environmental benefits of the proposed system under local composite climatic conditions. The work addresses the persistent challenge of unreliable electricity supply in rural and semi-urban areas by proposing a decentralized, sustainable power solution that operates independently of the main grid.
The proposed system is designed to meet the daily electrical demand of the boys’ hostel at Government Degree College, Fatehpur. The team estimated the hostel’s daily energy consumption at approximately 21.90 kWh, accounting for lighting, fans, refrigerators, televisions, and mobile charging units. To ensure energy autonomy, the system configuration includes eleven crystalline photovoltaic modules, each rated at 550 Wp, an off-grid inverter, and a lead-acid battery storage bank. The PV modules are installed on the hostel roof at a tilt angle of 23 degrees with a south-facing orientation, calculated to optimize year-round energy collection based on the site’s latitude.
The study utilized PVsyst simulation software to model the system’s performance using site-specific meteorological data, including solar irradiance and ambient temperature. The simulation incorporated local conditions such as hot summers, humid monsoon seasons, and cold winters, with an average solar irradiation of 5.5 kWh/m²/day. The software generated detailed monthly outputs, allowing the researchers to analyze energy balance, battery state of charge, and system losses throughout the year. This approach enabled a comprehensive assessment of how seasonal variations in solar resource availability impact the reliability of the power supply to the hostel.
Simulation results indicate that the system achieves an annual performance ratio of 73.1% and a solar fraction of 91.2%. The performance ratio reflects the efficiency of the system in converting available solar energy into usable electricity, while the solar fraction indicates the proportion of the hostel’s energy demand met by the PV system. The annual electricity generation was calculated at 7286.1 kWh. Monthly analysis revealed that the system performs best during the summer months of March and May, with generation reaching 678.9 kWh, while output decreases during the monsoon and winter months due to cloud cover and shorter daylight hours.
Despite seasonal fluctuations, the system maintains a high degree of energy autonomy. The battery storage plays a critical role in bridging the gap between solar generation and load demand, particularly during periods of low irradiance. The average battery state of charge remains at 0.59, with voltage levels stabilizing around 49.59 volts annually. During peak summer months, the battery state of charge reaches approximately 0.77, whereas it drops to a minimum of 0.44 in the winter months of November and December. This buffering capacity ensures that the hostel receives a consistent power supply, even when immediate solar generation is insufficient to meet the full load.
The economic assessment of the SAPV system was conducted using a life-cycle cost framework over a 25-year operational lifetime. The total initial capital investment for the system was estimated at USD 5,023.97, with the battery bank representing the largest cost component at approximately 43.4% of the total. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) was calculated to be USD 0.094 per kWh. This value represents the average cost of producing one unit of electricity over the system’s lifetime, accounting for initial costs, maintenance, and component replacements. The LCOE is competitive with grid electricity tariffs and suggests that the system is economically viable for off-grid applications in rural institutional settings.
The payback period analysis, based on the net present value method, reveals significant differences depending on the electricity source being displaced. When compared against grid electricity tariffs of USD 0.080 per kWh, the discounted payback period is estimated at 11.14 years. However, under diesel displacement conditions, where the system replaces diesel-generated electricity, the payback period is significantly shorter at 2.16 years. This rapid recovery of the initial investment is attributed to the higher unit cost of diesel-generated electricity, which results in larger annual monetary savings for the hostel. The study highlights the economic advantage of solar PV systems in scenarios where diesel generators are the primary alternative for power supply.
Environmental benefits were also quantified as part of the techno-economic analysis. The system achieves an annual CO2 emission mitigation of approximately 11.13 tonnes of CO2 equivalent when displacing grid electricity. Over the 25-year lifetime, the net CO2 mitigation is calculated at 262.08 tonnes, after accounting for emissions associated with the manufacturing of the PV modules. Under the diesel displacement scenario, the annual mitigation is lower at 5.94 tonnes, with a lifetime net mitigation of 139.93 tonnes. These reductions contribute to climate change mitigation by avoiding the emissions that would otherwise be released by thermal power plants or diesel generators to produce an equivalent amount of electricity.
In addition to environmental benefits, the study estimates potential economic gains from carbon credit generation. Using a benchmark carbon price of USD 74.07 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, the total carbon credit revenue over the system’s lifetime is estimated at approximately USD 19,412.30 for the grid displacement scenario. For the diesel displacement scenario, the estimated revenue is about USD 10,364.90. The researchers note that these figures are indicative estimates, as carbon credit prices can fluctuate over time. Nevertheless, the potential for carbon credits adds an additional layer of economic value to the environmental benefits of the SAPV system.
The study acknowledges several limitations and areas for future research. The analysis is based on simulation data rather than long-term field measurements, which may not fully capture real-world operational challenges such as maintenance issues or unexpected component failures. The researchers suggest that future work should focus on integrating advanced battery technologies, such as lithium-ion or hybrid storage, to improve round-trip efficiency. Additionally, demand-side management strategies could be explored to minimize unused energy losses, which were identified as a significant factor in the system’s performance. Long-term field validation studies are recommended to complement the simulation-based analysis and provide empirical evidence of the system’s reliability and economic viability in practical rural institutional settings.
The study situates its findings within a broader context of rural electrification challenges in India, where large sections of rural and semi-urban areas continue to face unreliable or insufficient electricity supply. The authors note that this energy gap hinders national development and perpetuates dependence on conventional fossil fuel-based solutions, which are described as costly and environmentally unsustainable. In this context, stand-alone photovoltaic systems with battery storage are presented as a decentralized energy source capable of addressing power needs while contributing to national renewable energy targets. The research specifically addresses a gap in the literature, as most previous studies have focused on grid-connected configurations or general system optimization, with limited attention given to simulation-based evaluations of stand-alone systems for government educational institutions under composite climatic conditions.
To address these gaps, the researchers developed an integrated, site-specific assessment that combines technical performance, battery behavior, energy balance, techno-economic feasibility, and environmental benefits. This approach distinguishes the current work from previous PVsyst-based studies that primarily focused on system sizing, energy yield, or isolated techno-economic assessments. The study simultaneously assesses monthly energy balance, system losses, and discounted payback under both grid-electricity and diesel-displacement scenarios. By evaluating these factors together, the analysis provides a comprehensive view of the system’s viability for rural institutional applications where reliable electricity access is essential for academic and residential activities.
The selection of PVsyst simulation software was justified by its ability to provide comprehensive modeling of photovoltaic modules, battery storage, charge controllers, inverters, and load profiles while incorporating site-specific meteorological data. The software offers advanced battery management algorithms and detailed loss assessment, enabling accurate prediction of annual energy production and battery state of charge. The authors compared this tool with HOMER Pro and MATLAB/Simulink, noting that while the latter are suited for hybrid-system optimization and dynamic modeling, PVsyst directly supports the photovoltaic-specific performance and loss analysis required for this stand-alone system. This methodological choice ensures that the simulation reflects the specific operational constraints and efficiency factors inherent to off-grid solar installations.
The economic analysis incorporates specific assumptions regarding component lifespans and replacement schedules, which significantly influence the life-cycle cost. The study assumes a 25-year operational lifetime for the photovoltaic modules, consistent with the expected service life of crystalline silicon technology. However, the off-grid inverter and battery bank are assumed to require more frequent replacement during the project’s duration. Batteries are scheduled for replacement at regular intervals, while the inverter is replaced once during the system lifetime. These replacement costs, along with maintenance and repair expenses estimated at 1% of the initial capital cost per year, are incorporated into the life-cycle cost assessment using a discounted cash flow approach with a 5% discount rate. This detailed accounting of recurring expenditures provides a realistic estimate of the long-term economic burden associated with maintaining an off-grid solar system.
The environmental assessment quantifies carbon credit potential using a benchmark compliance carbon price of USD 74.07 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, based on the EU ETS average for 2024. The study calculates earned carbon credits by multiplying the net lifetime CO2 mitigation by this market price. The authors emphasize that these revenue estimates are indicative and subject to uncertainty, as carbon credit prices can fluctuate over time. Variations in future carbon credit prices may influence the overall economic benefits of the proposed system. By linking environmental mitigation to potential market-based revenue, the study highlights an additional layer of economic value that could support the financial sustainability of solar installations in rural areas, although this benefit remains contingent on market conditions and verification processes.
Subject of Research: Simulation based design and technoeconomic analysis of a stand alone solar PV system with battery storage in government hostel building
Article Title: Simulation based design and technoeconomic analysis of a stand alone solar PV system with battery storage in government hostel building
Article References: Mahor, H. S., Yadav, S. K., Rajput, P., Kushwaha, P. K., Singh, K. Y., Paramasivam, P., Yusuf, M., & Hasnain, S. M. M. (2026). Simulation based design and technoeconomic analysis of a stand alone solar PV system with battery storage in government hostel building. Discover Mechanical Engineering, 5(1), Article 186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44245-026-00375-9
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1007/s44245-026-00375-9
Keywords: Simulation, based, design, technoeconomic, analysis, stand, alone, solar, system, battery, storage, government
News Source: Faith Mcneil. (November 12, 2026). Solar-Battery System Design for Rural Indian Hostel. Scienmag.
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