Milling machines; rural areas; productive uses of electricity; techno-economic study
Abstract :
[en] Maize is the most consumed product in Benin and particularly in rural areas, where economic development is hindered by the lack of access to electricity, insufficient training and support for economic actors. The Gini coefficient is 0.47 in 2020, with 50% of the population living on less than 2 USD per day. The development of economic activities in these areas is therefore crucial for the progress of the country. To address these challenges, this study focuses on the techno-economic analysis of an improved maize mill powered by photovoltaic solar energy, aimed at supporting economic activities. Five different mills, connected to photovoltaic solar micro-grids, are compared from both a technical and economic perspective : a fuel-powered mill, three electric mills, and an
optimized electric mill with an innovative water injection system. This improvement aims to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption required to process maize compared to conventional mills. The methodology includes modeling the mill, followed by validation through experimental field tests. The results highlight the economic and environmental benefits of the proposed solution for rural areas.
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