MACRO ECONOMICS OF VIRTUAL POWER PLANT FOR RURAL AREAS OF BOTSWANA

The growth of renewable energy technologies as an alternative source of power is a great boon to the rural masses where energy is predominantly a challenge. This paper focuses on studying the microeconomic benefits of the virtual power plant as a solution to the rural masses who either have no access to energy or has limited access. The model here uses HOMER as a tool for modelling the design. The simulation results discuss the profitability of the virtual power plant as a solution not only to the virtual power plant operator but also to the rural households while ensuring a sustainable income source with the use of solar power PV as a generator.