Optimization and assessment of an off-grid photovoltaic- diesel-battery hybrid sustainable energy system for remote residential applications (original) (raw)

2019, Wiley

Due to the increasing demand for electricity for the ecotourism areas like Malaysia, alternative energy sources are being required. In this research article, an investigation for the comprehensive off-grid photovoltaic (PV)-diesel-battery hybrid alternative energy system design with an energy backup of a 5-kW diesel generator is represented. From the simulation and optimization results, it can be observed that 38 kW hr/day load demand combined with 5-kW peak load for 37 family units for an ecotourism areas of Malaysia can be fulfilled by establishing the proposed hybrid PV-diesel-battery energy system. It can also be observed from the optimization outcomes that the proposed hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) is the most economically feasible energy system and the levelized cost of energy (COE) is nearing U.S. 0.895/kWhrandnetpresentcost(NPC)isU.S.0.895/kW hr and net present cost (NPC) is U.S. 0.895/kWhrandnetpresentcost(NPC)isU.S.158,206, and the COE and NPC have been minimized according to the current market price. After collecting meteorological data, a complete simulation has been conducted with the other parameters to achieve an optimal solution of the PV-diesel-battery hybrid alternative energy system. The decrement of the CO 2 emission can be compared to the existing results with the other conventional and HRESs. The simulation results from Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable software have been validated by using Photovoltaic System Tools (PVSYST) renewable energy platform. The analyzed energy system will be applicable where the meteorological conditions are the same. K E Y W O R D S ecotourism, HOMER, optimization, photovoltaic array, PVSYST, renewable energy, sustainable energy 1 | INTRODUCTION Fossil fuels are still the main resources of energy to handle the energy demand of the world. During last few decades, many researchers have emphasized on the negative impacts of fossil fuel on environment and the increasing shortage of it. 1 Therefore, some serious efforts should be taken to find out feasible alternative energy resources before the complete reduction of the fossil fuels. Among the possible alternate energy sources, renewable energy draws the most attention to the current researchers of the world. 2 The renewable energy resources (RERs) have some inherent characteristics such as renewability, inexhaustibility, naturally replenished, and sometimes cost-effective. The main resources of renewable energy are solar (photovoltaic [PV] and thermal), wind, hydropower, biomass, tidal, wave and geothermal, and so on. This study has chosen the PV as one of the energy resource components of the proposed hybrid system suitable for off-grid residential power supply. 3,4 The grid-connected PV system can be suitable for