Methodology for sizing hybrid power generation systems (solar-diesel), battery backed in non interconnected zones using PSO

ABSTRACT: Nowadays the access to electrical energy has become fundamental for the development of any region. Nonetheless, in developing countries there still many communities without a proper access to this service. There are plenty of reasons that make difficult the electrification of rural areas, however Hybrid Renewable Energy (HRE) systems have become an attractive option to solve these problems and provide with energy rural areas. Among HRE systems, the Solar-Diesel is often employed because the abundance of the solar resource. Battery banks are used due to the low reliability of photovoltaic energy system makes necessary the storage of energy. In this work, only HRE system based on solar-diesel with batteries are considered. Due to the stochastic nature of the variable associated to an HRE system and the lack of information and technical knowledge on off-grid areas, the design process of these systems could be difficult. For this reason, it is developed a methodology that helps the sizing process of these systems to obtain the most reliable and economic solution. In this work, a sizing methodology including a PSO algorithm is developed based minimizing the levelized cost of energy and including, on the objective function, the annual cost of energy not supplied. Also, the sub-model for estimation of the solar resource and the load demand on the location are described and developed. A dispatch strategy that prioritize the use of renewable energy is explained and applied on the simulation of the HRE system. Three study cases are analyzed and discussed. Lastly, comparison with the software HOMER is performed and discussed. It is expected that this work assists the sizing and design process of HRE systems for off-grid locations minimizing the cost of energy and maximizing the reliability of these systems