Optimal sizing of a hybrid grid-connected photovoltaic and wind power system

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) have been widely identified as an efficient mechanism to generate electrical power based on renewable energy sources (RES). This kind of energy generation systems are based on the combination of one or more RES allowing to complement the weaknesses of one with...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González Juncà, Arnau, Riba, Jordi-Roger, Rius Carrasco, Antoni|||0000-0002-8776-0947, Puig Vidal, Rita|||0000-0002-9436-2074
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/81339
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/81339
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.105
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Wind power
Grid-connected hybrid renewable energy system
Life-cycle cost
Sizing optimization
Solar photovoltaic power
life-cycle cost
renewable energy-systems
pumped-hydro storage
multiobjective optimization
evolutionary algorithms
rural electrification
genetic algorithms
remote island
design
feasibility
Energia eòlica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química
Descripción
Sumario:Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) have been widely identified as an efficient mechanism to generate electrical power based on renewable energy sources (RES). This kind of energy generation systems are based on the combination of one or more RES allowing to complement the weaknesses of one with strengths of another and, therefore, reducing installation costs with an optimized installation. To do so, optimization methodologies are a trendy mechanism because they allow attaining optimal solutions given a certain set of input parameters and variables. This work is focused on the optimal sizing of hybrid grid-connected photovoltaic-wind power systems from real hourly wind and solar irradiation data and electricity demand from a certain location. The proposed methodology is capable of finding the sizing that leads to a minimum life cycle cost of the system while matching the electricity supply with the local demand. In the present article, the methodology is tested by means of a case study in which the actual hourly electricity retail and market prices have been implemented to obtain realistic estimations of life cycle costs and benefits. A sensitivity analysis that allows detecting to which variables the system is more sensitive has also been performed. Results presented show that the model responds well to changes in the input parameters and variables while providing trustworthy sizing solutions. According to these results, a grid-connected HRES consisting of photovoltaic (PV) and wind power technologies would be economically profitable in the studied rural township in the Mediterranean climate region of central Catalonia (Spain), being the system paid off after 18 years of operation out of 25 years of system lifetime. Although the annual costs of the system are notably lower compared with the cost of electricity purchase, which is the current alternative, a significant upfront investment of over $10 M - roughly two thirds of total system lifetime cost - would be required to install such system. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.