Sizing a hybrid wind-diesel stand-alone system on the basis of minimum long-term electricity production cost

Hybrid wind-diesel systems are an interesting solution for the electrification of isolated consumers. The proposed system, including a properly sized battery, leads to a significant reduction of the fuel consumption, in comparison with a diesel-only installation, also protecting the diesel generator from excessive wear. On the other hand, a properly designed wind-diesel installation remarkably reduces the required battery capacity, in relation to a wind-only based stand-alone system, especially in medium-low wind potential areas. In this context, a complete sizing model, based on a long-term energy production cost analysis is developed, able to predict the optimum configuration of a hybrid wind-diesel stand-alone system on the basis of minimum long-term cost. According to the application results obtained for representative wind potential cases, the proposed hybrid system guarantees one year’s long energy autonomy of a typical remote consumer, presenting a significant cost advantage in relation either to a diesel-only or to a wind-based stand-alone system.     

The economics of photovoltaic stand-alone residential households: A case study for various European and Mediterranean locations

The cost-effective sizing and evaluation of residential stand-alone photovoltaic systems at various European and Mediterranean locations is the subject of this paper. The stand-alone photovoltaic system is serving the energy needs of a medium-sized household inhabited by a typical four member family. A typical energy consumption daily profile is assumed, and the solar array, battery and back-up generator – if necessary – are optimally sized to minimise the system life-cycle cost (LCC). The calculations have been done assuming economic parameters and PV technology costs applicable to years 1998 and 2005.     

Energy balance model of combined photovoltaic solar-thermal system incorporating phase change material

In this paper an energy balance model and simulation results are presented for a generic combined photovoltaic (PV) solar thermal (ST) system that incorporates phase change material (PCM). This is a promising integration of technology because the PV converts visible and ultra-violet parts of the solar spectrum, the ST utilises infra-red parts of the spectrum and waste heat from the PV, and the PCM reduces the temperature of the PV which increases PV efficiency. Parameters that are investigated cover PCM physical and thermal properties and water flow schemes. By including an appropriate PCM in an optimised system, the PV output can be increased by typically 9% with an average water temperature rise of 20 °C. Although any increase in PV performance has an associated decrease in ST performance, a practical and worthwhile compromise can still be achieved. This paper demonstrates that there is considerable scope for experimental realisation of the combined PV/ST/PCM system particularly if this is coupled with the development of PCMs with tuneable melting points and high thermal conductivity.     

Effect of different load profiles on the loss-of-load probability of stand-alone photovoltaic systems

As well as the technical design criteria, the performance of a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system depends on other variables, such as the solar radiation distribution and load profile. Different load profiles are encountered in stand-alone PV applications. Load profiles may vary from 24-h constant to only nighttime or oppositely only daytime load profiles. This article presents results of system performance simulations for analysing the effect of different load profiles on the system performance. The load demand used in this article is appropriate for an average residential application with an average 9.4 kWh of daily energy demand. The loss-of-load probability (LLP) of the PV system is simulated for five different weekly load profiles and the results are examined based on techno-economic parameters, including the total system cost or alternatively the cost of electricity per kWh for a 20-year system lifetime. The results are drawn based on 1-year long hourly time-series solar radiation and ambient temperature data.     

Procedure for optimal design of hydrogen production plants with reserve storage and a stand-alone photovoltaic power system

A procedure for sizing an electrolytic hydrogen production plant powered by a stand-alone photovoltaic system is described in this study. Our fundamental proposal is to compensate the loss of load probability of the photovoltaic system, by means of a hydrogen complementary storage. We compute the necessary hydrogen volume of that reserve storage. Using the isoreliability map of curves that characterizes a given location, we determine the size of the photovoltaic system that would be needed to generate a predetermined flow of hydrogen. Finally, we share information on our own experience relating to the design of the experimental installation at Villafría, located in the city of Burgos, Spain.     

Design and sizing of stand-alone photovoltaic hydrogen system for HCNG production

Hydrogen from renewable energy sources is a clean and sustainable option as a fuel and is seen as a potential alternative to gasoline in the future. However, in the near future the use of hydrogen in internal combustion engines is possible at low fraction in mixture with compressed natural gas (HCNG fuel).     

Determining optimum tilt angles and orientations of photovoltaic panels in Sanliurfa, Turkey

The performance of a photovoltaic (PV) panel is affected by its orientation and its tilt angle with the horizontal plane. This is because both of these parameters change the amount of solar energy received by the surface of the PV panel. A mathematical model was used to estimate the total solar radiation on the tilted PV surface, and to determine optimum tilt angles for a PV panel installed in Sanliurfa, Turkey. The optimum tilt angles were determined by searching for the values of angles for which the total radiation on the PV surface was maximum for the period studied. The study also investigated the effect of two-axis solar tracking on energy gain compared to a fixed PV panel. This study determined that the monthly optimum tilt angle for a PV panel changes throughout the year with its minimum value as 13° in June and maximum value as 61° in December. The results showed that the gains in the amount of solar radiation throughout the year received by the PV panel mounted at monthly optimum tilt angles with respect to seasonal optimum angles and tilt angel equal to latitude were 1.1% and 3.9%, respectively. Furthermore, daily average of 29.3% gain in total solar radiation results in an daily average of 34.6% gain in generated power with two-axis solar tracking compared to a south facing PV panel fixed at 14° tilt angle on a particular day in July in Sanliurfa, Turkey.     

Design and techno-economical optimization for hybrid PV/wind system under various meteorological conditions

The optimal design of the renewable energy system can significantly improve the economical and technical performance of power supply. In this paper, the technical-economic optimization study of a stand-alone hybrid PV/wind system (HPWS) in Corsica Island is presented.

Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to estimate the appropriate dimensions of a stand-alone HPWS that guarantee the energy autonomy of a typical remote consumer with the lowest levelised cost of energy (LCE). A secondary aim is to compare the performance and the optimal sizing of two system configurations. Finally, to study the impact of the renewable energy potential quality on the system size, the optimum dimensions of system are defined for five sites in Corsica Island. In this context, a complete sizing model is developed, able to predict the optimum system configuration on the basis of LCE. Accordingly, an integrated energy balance analysis is carried out for the whole time period investigated.

The simulation results indicate that the hybrid system is the best option for all the sites considered in this study, yielding lower LCE. Thus, it provides higher system performance than PV or wind systems alone. The choice of the system configuration type affects the state of charge variation profile, especially at low wind potential sites, while the system size and the LCE are significantly influenced. It is shown that the LCE depends largely on the renewable energy potential quality. At high wind potential site, more than 40% of the total production energy is provided by the wind generator, while at low wind potential sites, less than 20% of total production energy is generated by the wind generator.     

A comparison of hydrogen storage technologies for solar-powered stand-alone power supplies: A photovoltaic system sizing approach

This paper compares the performance of three different solar based technologies for a stand-alone power supply (SAPS) using different methods to address the seasonal variability of solar insolation—(i) photovoltaic (PV) panels with battery storage; (ii) PV panels with electrolyser and hydrogen (_H2)$({\mathrm{H}}_2)$ storage; and (iii) photoelectrolytic (PE) dissociation of water for _H2${\mathrm{H}}_2$ generation and storage. The system size is determined at three different Australian locations with greatly varying latitudes—Darwin (12^°S${12}^{°}\mathrm{S}$), Melbourne (38^°S${38}^{°}\mathrm{S}$) and Macquarie Island (55^°S${55}^{°}\mathrm{S}$). While the PV/electrolyser system requires fewer PV panels compared to the PV/battery scenario due to the seasonal storage ability of _H2${\mathrm{H}}_2$, the final number of PV modules is only marginally less at the highest latitude due to the lower energy recovery efficiency of _H2${\mathrm{H}}_2$ compared to batteries. For the PE technology, an upper limit on the cost of such a system is obtained if it is to be competitive with the existing PV/battery technology.     

Life cycle assessment study of a 4.2 kWp stand-alone photovoltaic system

The energetic and environmental life cycle assessment of a 4.2 kW_p stand-alone photovoltaic system (SAPV) at the University of Murcia (south-east of Spain) is presented. PV modules and batteries are the energetically and environmentally most expensive elements. The energy pay-back time was found to be 9.08 years and the specific CO₂ emissions was calculated as 131 g/kWh. The SAPV system has been environmentally compared with other supply options (diesel generator and Spanish grid) showing lower impacts in both cases. The results show the CO₂-emission reduction potential of SAPV systems in southern European countries and point out the critical environmental issues in these systems.     

Energy management algorithm for an optimum control of a photovoltaic water pumping system

The effectiveness of photovoltaic water pumping systems depends on the adequacy between the generated energy and the volume of pumped water. This paper presents an intelligent algorithm which makes decision on the interconnection modes and instants of photovoltaic installation components: battery, water pump and photovoltaic panel. The decision is made by fuzzy rules on the basis of the Photovoltaic Panel Generation (PVPG) forecast during a considered day, on the load required power, and by considering the battery safety. The algorithm aims to extend operation time of the water pump by controlling a switching unit which links the system components with respect to multi objective management criteria. The algorithm implementation demonstrates that the approach extends the pumping period for more than 5 h a day which gives a mean daily improvement of 97% of the water pumped volume.     

Weather data and energy balance of a hybrid photovoltaic-wind system with hydrogen storage

This article presents and discusses the results of measurements of solar radiation and wind speed obtained during the operation of a test-bed hybrid wind/solar generator with hydrogen support designed and constructed at the Industrial Engineering School at the University of Extremadura, Badajoz (Spain). An energy balance analysis is made of the different components of the system, calculating their conversion efficiencies, and proposing future improvements to increase the efficiency of the use of the surplus energy produced by the wind/solar generator. The continued collection of this data series will make it possible to perform energy and exergy analyses to allow extrapolation of the results to real stand-alone applications providing an uninterrupted power supply to receptors isolated from the grid.     

Modeling and simulation of a stand-alone photovoltaic system using an adaptive artificial neural network: Proposition for a new sizing procedure

This paper presents an adaptive artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling and simulation of a Stand-Alone photovoltaic (SAPV) system operating under variable climatic conditions. The ANN combines the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LM) with an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter in order to accelerate the convergence of the network. SAPV systems are widely used in renewable energy source (RES) applications and it is important to be able to evaluate the performance of installed systems. The modeling of the complete SAPV system is achieved by combining the models of the different components of the system (PV-generator, battery and regulator). A global model can identify the SAPV characteristics by knowing only the climatological conditions. In addition, a new procedure proposed for SAPV system sizing is presented in this work. Different measured signals of solar radiation sequences and electrical parameters (photovoltaic voltage and current) from a SAPV system installed at the south of Algeria have been recorded during a period of 5-years. These signals have been used for the training and testing the developed models, one for each component of the system and a global model of the complete system. The ANN model predictions allow the users of SAPV systems to predict the different signals for each model and identify the output current of the system for different climatological conditions. The comparison between simulated and experimental signals of the SAPV gave good results. The correlation coefficient obtained varies from 90% to 96% for each estimated signals, which is considered satisfactory. A comparison between multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function (RBF) network and the proposed LM–IIR model is presented in order to confirm the advantage of this model.     

Technical and economic assessment of hybrid photovoltaic/wind system with battery storage in Corsica island

The sizing and techno-economical optimization of a stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic/wind system (HPWS) with battery storage is presented in this paper. The main objective of the present study is to find the optimum size of system, able to fulfill the energy requirements of a given load distribution, for three sites located at Corsica island and to analyze the impact of different parameters on the system size. The methodology used provides a useful and simple approach for sizing and analyzing an HPWS. In the proposed stand-alone system, a new concept such as the supply of wind power via a uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is introduced and therefore the energy produced by the wind generator can be sent directly to the load.     

Optimum energy management of a photovoltaic water pumping system

This paper presents a new management approach which makes decision on the optimum connection times of the elements of a photovoltaic water pumping installation: battery, water pump and photovoltaic panel. The decision is made by fuzzy rules considering the battery safety on the first hand and the Photovoltaic Panel Generation (PVPG) forecast during a considered day and the load required power on the second hand. The optimization approach consists of the extension of the operation time of the water pump with respects to multi objective management criteria. Compared to the stand alone management method, the new approach effectiveness is confirmed by the extension of the pumping period for more than 5 h a day.     

Sizing of stand-alone photovoltaic power supply system based on genetic algorithm and neuro-fuzzy: application for isolated areas

This paper deals with the application of genetic algorithm (GA) and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference scheme (ANFIS), for the prediction of the optimal sizing coefficient of stand-alone photovoltaic supply (SAPVS) systems in remote areas. A database of total solar radiation data for 60 sites in Algeria has been used to determine the iso-reliability curves of a PVS system (C _A, C _S) for each site. Initially, the GA is used for determining the optimal coefficient (C _Aop, C _Sop) for each site by minimising the optimal cost (objective function). These coefficients allow the determination of the number of PV modules and the capacity of the battery. Subsequently, an ANFIS is used for the prediction of the optimal coefficient in remote areas based only on geographical coordinates. Therefore, 56 couples of C _Aop and C _Sop have been used for the training of the network and four couples have been used for testing and validation of the proposed technique. The simulation results have been analysed and compared with the alternative techniques. The technique has been applied and tested for Algeria locations, but it can be generalised for any location in the world.     

PEM fuel cell degradation effects on the performance of a stand-alone solar energy system

After comparing fresh and degraded performances of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) based components of a hydrogen cycle with the help of computational fluid dynamics simulations, recently established stand-alone solar energy system producing hydrogen for energy storage is investigated focusing on the effects of degradation of fuel cells on the overall performance of the system. A complete model of the system has been developed using TRNSYS, and a degraded PEM Fuel Cell Subsystem has been incorporated into the model. Then, the effects of the PEM fuel cell degradation on the overall performance of the energy system are estimated. After reviewing the simulation results, the model shows that the PEM Fuel Cell degradation has a substantial impact on the overall system performance causing a system down time of approximately one month in a typical simulation year. Consequently, the stand-alone system is not capable of operating continuously for a complete year when the PEM fuel cells are degraded. Furthermore, an economic analysis is performed for a project lifetime of 25 years and the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCE) value of the degraded system is found to be 0.08 $/kWh higher than the newly established system. Nevertheless, LCE calculations that are repeated for declining PV panel costs show that the considered hybrid system may be an economically competitive alternative to conventional diesel generators, even when the degradation of PEM based components and their regular maintenance are considered.     

Thermographic analysis of a building integrated photovoltaic system

A residential-scale building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) cogeneration system has been thermographically investigated. The results are useful in calibrating the numerical models created to predict the system's operational temperatures. The combined heat and power system is based on existing BiPV roofing technology with the addition of a modular heat recovery unit. The convection of the air behind the panels will serve both to cool the photovoltaic panels and provide a heat source for the residence. The analysis allows for the interpretation of the surface emissivities and operating temperatures, as well as qualitative graphic analysis of temperature gradients.     

Organic heterojunction photovoltaic cells: role of functional groups in electron acceptor materials

We have fabricated and characterized some donor/acceptor type photovoltaic devices. While zinc phthalocyanine has been the donor material, a series of acceptor materials with identical backbone but different strength has been chosen. The role of function groups in acceptor material on photovoltaic device characteristics has been studied under different illumination intensities. Origin of the open-circuit voltage has been discussed considering ionization potential of donor and electron affinity of the acceptor material. Nonlinear increase of short-circuit current on light intensity has been observed and discussed in terms of conductance switching of acceptor material via electroreduction.     

Performance optimization of a photovoltaic induction motor pumping system

The performances of a photovoltaic pumping system based on an induction motor are degraded once insolation varies far from the value called nominal, where the system was sized. To surmount this handicap, an improvement of these performances by the optimization of the motor efficiency is described in this paper. The results obtained are compared with those of similar work pieces presented in the literature where the motor effeciency and air gap flux where optimized separatly. The simulation results show that the proposed system allows at the same time to combine the performances of the system with constant efficiency and the simplicity of implementation provided by the system with constant airgap flux.