Design and Simulation of Solar PV and Water Heating Systems for Sustainable Village Energy

This paper investigates the comprehensive energy profile and renewable energy solutions for a rural village comprising 30 houses. The study begins by analyzing the load demand distribution across day and night periods, with maximum daytime consumption recorded at 57.860 kWh and total daily usage of 509.040 kWh, while nighttime consumption peaks at 11.060 kWh with a total of 80.460 kWh. Detailed hourly consumption patterns are presented for various village components, including residential, water pumping, street lighting, medical facilities, and a supermarket, offering a granular view of energy use. To address the village’s energy requirements sustainably, a photovoltaic (PV) system with a capacity of 60 kW is proposed, supplemented by a solar thermal water heating system designed to meet hot water demands efficiently. The paper outlines the design and simulation of the solar water heating system, including calculations for water tube diameters, thermal resistance, and necessary tube length to transfer absorbed solar energy. MATLAB (V.22b) simulations further illustrate the performance of the integrated system, modeling energy production, battery charging/discharging cycles, and temperature fluctuations in water systems over a 24-hour period. Comparative analyses between standalone PV, PV/T hybrid, and combined PV plus solar thermal solutions reveal that the most cost-effective and maintenance-efficient strategy involves separate PV and thermal installations. The study highlights significant cost savings and environmental benefits over traditional diesel-based systems, positioning solar technologies as a reliable, sustainable, and economically viable solution for rural electrification and domestic hot water supply. Additional technical analysis confirms system sustainability and economic efficiency in real practice.