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Volume 01 Issue01 January 2016

Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains

María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez, W. Manuel Saltos Arauz.

Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Facultad de Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas,

School of Electrical Engineering,
Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo, Manabí, Euador
Email Id: - wcastillo@utm.edu.ec, taliangel270557@gmail.com, antoniov5506@gmail.com,
wsaltos@utm.edu.ec

Abstract: In the town of Chone province of Manabí, Ecuador, the electric grid outspreads a
distance greater than 15 km, through mountainous areas to reach and provide energy service to
rural communities and inaccessible areas, there are other sources of energy that can be used
instead the one they use. In areas to far from the grid, presenting potential of renewable energy
sources which are available, and can be distributed in the territory eligible for technical
initiative of the micro-grid way of distribution, thereby achieving and reducing losses at the same
time ensuring quality electricity. At this study feasibility is taken into account the technical
elements to exploit are given for the potential exploitation of solar and wind electricity
generation through networked systems, autonomous systems, water pumping and public
lighting.

Keywords: Potential, renewable energy, rural electrification, sustainable energy planning.

1. Introduction
In the current guidelines of the energy program the electricity generation field and transmission
of Ecuador, changing the matrix is called a and distribution fields, in the world today more
political tool for planning work that could be than 1.3 billion human beings do not have
directed to change the composition of electricity electricity.
generation with the addition of renewable
resources, and to guarantee energy Africa continent for nearly half, the people who
independence, aiming to consolidate a live in that region are approximately one quarter
sustainable energy base of unquestionable theory of the 2.6 billion that continues to use traditional
[1]. biomass to cook [3].

Is focused on maximizing the remarkable People living in rural areas where electricity
hydraulic potential of the country; but technically does not reached prime a difficult life with
will need to look into the possibilities of serious limitations to carry out social tasks at
electricity diversification, with the use of other night, they do not have access to the media and
renewable sources like hydro presents a where half of the 24-hours of the day reigns
formidable availability, and in some cases is silence and darkness to carry out with social life.
higher, than the solar potential in coastal areas.
Access to electricity can generate the potential
Electricity is basic and essential in the needs of for improving the quality of life and the active
modern man, as well as being providing with inclusion of people to a healthy and integrated
clean water, health care, education, etc. Despite social life, electrical service could also reduce
the extraordinary technological developments in marginalization, increase public safety and
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
1 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
improve public health, education among many
other advantages. The ease of being well
informed and leisure that promotes the use of
radio and television, proper and hygienic food
storage coolers using improved social conditions,
allows life to become different in isolated regions.
Providing electrical service to rural areas is a
major challenge for the Ecuadorian government,
in terms of achieving the objectives outlined in
the program of good living of rural people. The
power supply helps reduce poverty;
marginalization and it has succeeded in
improving health conditions, promoting
economic growth through competitiveness and
increase agricultural production.
Currently there are different ways to bring
electricity to households in isolated rural
communities, one of which is the extension of the
network, micro grids or isolated networks and
home systems [1], [2].
Providing electrical service to rural areas
involves providing electricity to all communities,
regardless of the technology, the sources of
energy used and how it is generated.
Rural electrification is mainly characterized by
a low density of local load, so to perform
feasibility studies to economically meet the
technological variant are used.
There are familiarities in countries like Spain,
where there has been studies in pattern detached
house four individuals located in different
geographical locations of Spanish territory
(Huelva, Zaragoza and Vitoria) for comparison.
These were evaluated with the aims of supplying
both a solar thermal system, as well as a
photovoltaic [4].
At the Energy Research Center, Environment and
Technology (CIEMAT), a method has been
developed based on the use of geographic
information systems (GIS), for rural
electrification renewable energy captured for
development model IntiGIS, the model includes
oriented algorithms to calculate the cost of
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
2 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
2016
electrification equivalent (Carlos and authors)
which allows through a GIS application to
evaluate the most competitive option for
electrification in rural areas lacking of this
service. The application also includes monitoring
tools to assess the inherent uncertainty of the
results; the spatial sensitivity analysis model has
been validated in several Latin American
countries [5].
Neighboring countries like Peru and Chile have
made efforts to complete the plan of
electrification in rural areas, by means of
different systems depending on the likelihood
economic studies that have been carry out.
This project presents an economic feasibility
study on communities electrified by extending
the grid; however it has not been able to offer a
quality service because of the distance and
dispersion of the communities in relation to the
grid.
The aim of this work is focused on presenting the
economic elements that demonstrate the
practicability of the use of renewable energy
sources, to ensure electricity in remote areas of
the network and propose the use of new forms of
energy generation that would allow providing
better service and to diversify the energy
assortment in Chone’s communities.
2. Materials and methods
For the study Chone city was visited, these city
that is located in the province of Manabí, where
part of its territory is mountainous and the rural
dwellings are scattered, for this research the
information has been obtain through various
visits which extended to four mains dispersed
population groups, the distance of the network
grid was analyzed as well as the costs of the
infrastructure elements of electrical service as a
whole.
GIS were used to determine the distances of the
distribution and analysis of potential renewable
sources (solar and wind).
For the map of Ecuador the digital information
elevation model was used (Thermal Emission and
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains 2016
Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Cojimies, de Caraquez and Manta; coves: Jama,
Elevation Model ASTER Gdem Version 1, wherein Crucita, Key or Machalilla.
a land cover analysis is taken using references
WGS84 / EGM96 [6]. The province is privileged with extensive
stretches of beaches, from Ayampe in the south
Ecuador used mapping was downloaded from the to Pedernales in the north, which is an important
Military Geographical Institute free access tourist attraction for the region.
website [7].
The climate ranges from dry to wet a tropical
3. Analysis and discussion of results climate and it is determined by ocean currents;
during the winter that begins in early December
3.1 Geographical characterization of the and ends in May, the weather is hot and is
region influenced by the warm current of the
phenomenon "El Niño". On the contrary the
Manabí is a province located in the center-west of
summer from June to December is not as hot,
Ecuatorian Continent region, whose legal entity is
thanks to the cold Humboldt current, although
located in the geographical region of the coast,
the temperature is not uniform across the
which in turn is divided by the crossing of the
province, the average temperature in the capital
equator line. Its capital is Portoviejo, which was
Portoviejo is 25°C and in the city of Manta,
founded in March 1535.
23.8°C.
It has an area of 18400 square kilometers of land,
The province Manabí is divided into 22 regions,
the most extensive coastal province. It borders on
figure 1 shows a map of the pro Manabí province
the west with the Pacific Ocean, north with the
with the current political-administrative division
province of Esmeraldas, on the east by the
is shown.
province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and
its rivers, to the south with the province of Santa
The most populated area of the province is the
Elena and south and east with the province of
south, where the city capital located and named
Guayas. It has a population of 1,395.249
Portoviejo and also the port city of Manta.
inhabitants; which in turn is the third most
The province has a population of 1,395.249
populous province of Ecuador with 75.8
inhabitants, with an annual growth rate of 1.65%.
inhabitants per square kilometer.
The average population age is 28.2 years.
Illiteracy in people 15 and older is to 10.2% and
The province is dominated by large coastal
digital illiteracy in people 10 years or older is to
plains. In the province of Guayas is the coastal
34.3%.
mountain range of the fog forest, which gives rise
to the hills of Paján and Puca. The elevations do
not exceed 500 meters above sea level.

In Montecristi the hills are a chain of isolated hills

also known by the name and the hills of leaves. In
the north the Cordillera de Balzar, encompassing
the hills of Liberals and Canoa, which is followed
by a branch that meets the hills of Jama and
continues north to the hills of Coaque.
Figure 1. Map of the province of Manabí with
The coastal profile of the province extends 350 the current political-administrative division
km from the Pacific Rim. The most important
land forms are situated north-south: Cojimíes The manabita electrical system is characterized
peninsula; the Past ends, San Mateo and San by a strong generation deficit, having three
Lorenzo, the Cojimíes, Surrones, Brava, power plants 33 MW thermal generation
Charapotó, Jaramijó, Cayo and Ayampe tips; Bays: Miraflores, Manta II 20 MW and 140 MW Jaramijó
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
3 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
with a rated capacity of 193 MW, representing
15% of the demand for the province is about 275
MW, the rest of the demand is supplied by a base
hydro generation that are between 120 and 400
kilometers away from the main load centers in
the province, comprising large losses and high
costs to maintain the quality of technical service.
The conditions under which much of the
electricity in the province of Manabí is
functioned, means that for every kWh of
electricity consumed, has to be generated from
2,3 and kWh by hydroelectric power stations that
are distant from the center of consumption.
2016
where a group of them in isolated areas of
difficult access and in scattered areas can be
found, implying that despite the efforts to achieve
the welfare of the population, it has become
physically impossible to carry energy to the
entire territory. The Figure 3 shows a map away
from the settlements to the electrical sub-
transmission network is shown.

The electrical system is characterized by its big

losses in the country, with 24.8% (14% technical
losses) and distribution level with a 3.65%
essentially the distances from where it is
generated and served the electricity.

Specifically the town of Chone which is located in

the northern central part of the province and its
divided into seven parishes located in the
mountainous areas. In Figure 2, the geographical
location of Chone province of Manabí and Figure 3. Distance from villages to the
municipality with its parishes are highlighting, its electricity grid
location on the map to highlight where the
mountainous areas that integrates the province is As you can see there are settlements confined to
shown. longer distances such as of 60 km from the
nearest sub network transmission.

Figure 4 shows a chart where can see the

distribution ratio of rural population centers by
distance to the network. Many remote villages
are less than 20 km, but there are others which
are scattered up to 90 km.

On the same graph can grasp the relationship

between the behaviors of the cost of network
expansion to the distance to where the studied
rural communities are located.

Although the cost per km of line in the order of $

Figure 2. Geographical location of the 22,306.00 which was calculated. For analyzes, the
municipalities of the provinces of Manabí and values used for rural electrification projects that
Chone are in the order of 8.560.00 per km of network
were taken.
The town has 151 housing settlements with a low
concentration; these are at different distances
from the sub-transmission network. Currently,
the electricity has not reached all populations,
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
4 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
Figure 4. Relationship the behavior of the cost
to network expansion
The above chart shows the gradual increase
experienced in the costs to the extent distance
power lines is increased, so that in these cases it
is advisable to analyze the discrepancy of
electrification with renewable sources energy
(FRE), specifically photovoltaic, corresponding to
more abundant and better quality in the study
area.
For the town of Chone analysis of cost behavior
of autonomous photovoltaic systems for rural
electrification were carried out, where a
standard cost of $ 15.00 Wp, which corresponds
to the prices that have photovoltaic technologies
this will be considered market.
In some regions of Ecuador some of these
facilities have already been built for social
purposes. One study was conducted in Napo [7].
where the analysis of the demands of two typical
houses were developed and could be seen that
depending on the social development and the
potential of people living in these areas it ranges
from 279 W (housing type "A") and 929 W (type
housing "B").
Making a basic calculation on the cost of rural
electrification with photovoltaic, you can define
that for housing such as "A", would be equivalent
to approximately $ 4.185,00 and Type "B" $
13,935.00.
In the above graph Figure 5 shows the
relationship between the grid expansion cost and
the two variants autonomous photovoltaic
systems (AFS) where photovoltaic technologies
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
5 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
2016
are used. The above chart shows the gradual
increase experienced in the costs that scope the
extension and distance of power lines has
increased, so that in those cases it is advisable to
analyze the variation of electrification with
potential renewable sources energy, in the
studied area. Specifically photovoltaic,
corresponding to a more abundant and better
quality of the service
For the township of Chone analysis of cost
behavior of autonomous photovoltaic systems for
rural electrification it was carried out, where a
standard cost of $ 15.00 Wp, which corresponds
to the prices have photovoltaic technologies will
be considered market (RENOVAENERGÍA.SA,
2015).
In some regions of Ecuador they have already
done some of these facilities for social purposes.
One study was conducted in Napo (Licuy, 2012),
where the analysis of the demands of two typical
houses were developed and can be seen that
depending on the social development and the
potential of people living in these areas ranges
from 279 W (housing type "A") and 929 W (type
housing "B").
Making a basic calculation on the cost of rural
electrification with photovoltaic system, you can
define that for housing such as "A", would be
equivalent to approximately $ 4.185,00 and Type
"B" $ 13,935.00.
Figure 5. Relation between the cost of
network expansion and AFS
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
In the graph in Figure 5 shows the relationship
between the cost of network expansion and the
two variants autonomous photovoltaic systems
where photovoltaic technologies are used.
As shown with increasing distance network costs
are increasing for alternative extension of the
power line, instead of the costs for the variants (A
and B) where the autonomous photovoltaic
systems are used, they are lower and they remain
linearly independent of the distance of the grid,
showing that constitute valid grounds for
electrification of rural areas in the municipality of
Chone alternative. Whatever it is important to
consider that option costs using the AFS, it
depends on the number of homes in each of the
communities.
It can be seen that the lines are not cut, the cost
for the variant (B), arrives shortened the curve of
the cost of the network, thereby demonstrating
that demand for housing with 929 W could be the
lower cost of network distances under 5 km. You
really could argue that the extension of the
network is not feasible after 5 km.
With the above analysis, a visit to four
communities that were at different distances
from the grid and that were already electrified by
that choice was made a study of technical and
economic feasibility was conducted to evaluate
the cost of the alternatives discussed above.
For the study the costs of maintenance are
performed periodically to power lines that
normally tallies every 6 or 7 months, because in
the winter it is very difficult for the terrain, being
another factor that increases were not
considered the costs of network extension to the
already high costs studied.
In the analysis of electrified communities in the
town of Chone, it was verified that the extended
power lines, through forests in hilly areas, where
there are also more than three steps rivers are
streams in the summer; but in the winter grow,
hampering the performance of maintenance
work and urgent repairs, which for this time of
year usually very recurrent given the emergence
of technical faults and interruptions caused by
weather conditions. These problems must be
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
6 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
2016
added the technical conflicts low voltage and
poor quality of service, which are a potential
annoyance of the population living in these areas
cause.
For studies took into account the cost of the
elements of the electrical infrastructure in each
line km (posts (2500.00), transformers
(8000.00), low-voltage insulator (225.00), cables
(6000.00), safety fuse holder (120.00 ), earthling
(500.00), structure retainers (500.00) and labor
(4461.25), the total cost (Ct) per km of line $
22,306.25, equation (1) was used.
(1)
Where:
Cr →network Cost ($)
D → Distance (km)
Ct → total cost (for 1km)
The sites studied and the results obtained for
each are shown in Table 1, as shown are
controlled distances and costs representing the
extent of the power line, can verify that as it
moves away from the network sub transmission,
will cost more expensive, and not taking into
account the distribution to different house
isolation.
As shown on the map highlighted in Figure 2, the
municipality is located in a mountainous region,
where the cost is more expensive power lines by
accident terrain. In the communities surveyed
households are scattered from one another, so
you need to do independent power lines over the
system more expensive.
The behavior of the costs of the variants (A) and
(B) for photovoltaic systems where demand
values studied in Napo were considered and
knowing that today the price of peak Watt
installed for these types of systems is $ 15 [9], for
rural areas in Ecuador. From these data, the cost
to the variant is obtained using Equation (2) and
variant (B) Equation (3), considering that the
demand for the variant (A) outside (279 Wp) and
variant (B) of (299 Wp).
(2)
(3)
Where:
Nv → Number of homes
PW → Watt peak price ($ 15)
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
Dfas (A) → variant Demand (A)
Dfas (B) → variant Demand (B)
Table 1. Sites studied in the town of Chone, cost extension cost of two variants of SFV network
No.
Towns Housing Distance
units (km)
Ruta del Spondilus 7 5,2
La dibujada 50 10
El Páramo 10 15
5 Caminos 3 17
El Espartillal 7 20
As the most critical case is observed corresponds
to the community drawn, which has 50 homes,
where the cost of the photovoltaic investment
can be increased by the number of homes to be
electrified, especially for the variant "B" when PV
systems are more expensive for its power;
however in Table 1 it can be seen which it is also
expensive regarding the extension of the grid.
With the commissioning of autonomous
photovoltaic systems, users will receive a
permanent energy service without any
interruption and designed for your application,
where maintenance costs are not high.
Figure 6 shows the behavior of the annual
average for the cantons of Chone daily solar
radiation is displayed, and you can verify that the
values ranging from 4.1 kWh/m2day to 4.8
kWh/m2day with a sufficient energy level fulfill
the demand for electricity in the area.
Figure 6. Annual average daily solar radiation
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
7 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
2016
CSFV (A) → Cost alone photovoltaic system
variant (A)
CSFV (B) → Cost autonomous photovoltaic
system variant (B)
Cost SFA
Cost of gird variant A) Cost SFA variant
($) ( 279 Wp) (B) (299 Wp)
44512,00 29295,0 97545,0
85600,00 209250,0 696750,0
128400,00 41850,0 139350,0
145520,00 12555,0 41805,0
446125,00 29295,0 97545,0
One of the advantages of photovoltaic technology,
it can be installed in places difficult to access,
without offering relevant to environment
impacts. The technical components of these
systems are easy to transport, the maintenance
as well they are not expensive and users can train
in terms of sustainability.
Further work carried out is related to the
performance assessment of the wind speed in the
town of Chone. In Figure 7, the map of the
average annual wind speed of territory studied is
shown, being able to verify that there are sites
located in populated areas where there is an
annual average wind speed, which allows its use
by installing wind turbines, capable of generate
electricity and meet demand independently.
Studies and assessments made demonstrate the
feasibility of the use of solar and wind energy to
generate electricity around in this town ,
especially in rural areas of difficult access, which
is more convenient from the technical standpoint
economic, using renewable technologies that the
extension of the power line.
The data analyzed to define the desirability of
developing projects to study the renewable
potential sources in the territory of the
municipality, with the potential to derive
relevant information to facilitate sustainable
energy planning territory.
Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
Figure 7. Map of the average annual wind
speed
For people who are at distances considered from
the mains, they could make comprehensive
analysis of the renewable potential, not only
solar and wind, but also biomass, hydraulic and
others that allow implement alternative
sustainable electrification and less expensive the
extension of the grid.
4. Conclusions
1. Effort to define the extent of the network is
feasible until additional 5 km from the
technical-economic standpoint, there are
other solutions that can be economically
undertaken through the use of renewable
energy sources in remote areas.
2. It was proved the usefulness of GIS, for
conducting complex studies and evaluations
linked to the energy profiling of the
territories belonging to the Manabí province.
3. Managed to draw the map of the annual
average daily solar potential in Chone town,
as well as the annual average wind speed,
corresponding to relevant information they
have potential to facilitate change of the
energy matrix through the appropriate use of
renewable energy sources in the territory.
Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
8 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz
2016
5. References
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integrada de electrificación mediante SIG.
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febrero 2013, 2012.
[2] Bordons, Garcia-T. F., Valverde L. Gestión
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[3] AIE, World energy outlook 2013. Resumen
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[4] Andara, A.R., Estudio de factibilidad para el
abastecimiento energético de viviendas
unifamiliares a partir de energía solar.
Alejandro Rodríguez Andara, 2010. 4th
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OrganizaciónDonostia- San Sebastián.
Septiembre 2010. www.
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[5] PASCUA, I.P., INTIGIS: Propuesta
metodológica para la evaluación de
alternativas de electrificación rural basada en
sig. Colección Documentos Ciemat, 2012.
Catálogo general de publicaciones oficiales,
http://www.060.es(Depósito Legal: M-7651-
2012, ISBN: 978-84-7834-676-9, NIPO: 721-
12-010-7).
[6] GDEM, A., ASTER Global DEM Validation
Summary Report from.
http://www.gdem.aster.ersdac.or.jp
(Conssultao Febrero 2015). 2011.
[7] IGM, Capas de Información Geográfica
básica del IGM de libre acceso. (Codificación
UTF-8). Cartografía de libre acceso (Escala
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[8] Licuy, Á.P., Estudio del Potencial solar
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Cites as- Economic Feasibility of Extending the Mains
Author Profile
María Rodriguez Gámez
PhD. Strategies and Planning territory Renewable
Energy Sources. University Pablo de Olavide,
2016
Sevilla Spain, 2011. Master's degree Territorial
Planning and Development (Strategic Planning
Renewable energy sources). UNIA: La Rabida,
Sevilla Spain., Received the
Licensed Education Specialty. Physics and
Astronomy, in Cuba, 1981.

Corresponding Author- María Rodríguez Gámez, Washington Castillo Jurado, Antonio Vázquez Pérez,
9 W. Manuel Saltos Arauz