A practical analysis of the economic justification for small RAPS systems [remote area power supply]

In New Zealand, due to the deregulation of the power industry, the statutory obligation to supply electric power to remote areas has ceased. This paper aims to justify the development of remote area power supply (RAPS) systems for rural use and describes how there is room for a really robust cheap wind turbine with outputs in the range 1-5 kW. It is found to be quite clear that everybody is willing to pay more now for power, as insurance against expected huge rate hikes and power shortages.