Browsing by Author "Kayofa, Lilongeni"
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- ItemFeasibility study and business plan for manufacturing a 3 kW-electrical solar Stirling engine and dish for stand-alone power supply units(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Kayofa, Lilongeni; Van Schalkwyk, T. D.; Dobson, R. T.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Africa has some of the richest solar resource regions in the world. These remain largely untapped. Meanwhile, numerous rural communities in Africa are without access to electricity. Rural communities are in most cases isolated and scattered, in addition they have low population densities. This makes it expensive to extend electricity grids to them. Therefore, the Stirling system is one of the promising off-grid technologies that Africa could explore in an effort to produce electricity in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a viable market in Africa for the use of the solar Stirling system. In addition, an economic evaluation was performed to determine whether it is economically viable to manufacture the solar Stirling system in Africa. Finally, the study prepared a summary of the economic evaluation for a residential 3 kW solar Stirling system. Market research was included in the study to establish the market viability of the Stirling dish. In addition the market research was used to identify those needs of the customers that could be incorporated into the design of the Stirling engine and the concentrator. The market research was carried out in a rural community with households without access to electricity. Furthermore, a manufacturing plan was developed to determine whether it is economically attractive to manufacture the Stirling system. Africa has the skills and resources to manufacture the Stirling dish. The market research revealed that most of the people in rural communities survive on a very low income. Furthermore, the research showed that while they are interested in acquiring the technology, it is unlikely that they will be able to afford it on a basis of a once-off purchase. The selling price of the Stirling system was found to be too high compared to other off-grid technologies. However, the study showed that the residential Stirling system is attractive with a levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of R1,37 R/kWh and R0,82 R/kWh for a Stirling dish with storage. The standard Stirling system storage has a payback period of 16 years and the system with storage has a payback period of 7,9 years. The economic evaluation of the project from a manufacturer’s point of view showed that the business will take about two years before it starts bringing in positive cash-flows.