Performance assessment of hybrid power generation systems: Economic and environmental impacts

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2017-01, Vol.132, p.418-431
• Main Authors: Al-Sharafi, Abdullah, Yilbas, Bekir S., Sahin, Ahmet Z., Ayar, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batteries; Case studies; Configurations; Diesel engines; Economic; Economics; Electric power generation; Electricity pricing; Energy storage; Environmental assessment; Environmental impact; Environmental performance; Environmental regulations; Government regulations; Hybrid control systems; Hybrid systems; Impact analysis; Indicators; Life cycle assessment; Life cycle engineering; Life cycles; Optimization; Performance assessment; Performance indices; Photovoltaic cells; Social impact; Solar cells; Turbines; Wind; Wind power; Wind turbines
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.11.047

•A double-step optimization tool for hybrid power generation systems is introduced.•Economical aspects and the impact of the system on the environment are considered.•A hybrid system comprises PV array-wind turbine-battery-diesel engine is considered.•Real time analysis of the system for full year simulation is carried out.•System optimum configuration at point where total performance index is maximized. This article aims to introduce a double-step performance assessment tool for the hybrid power generation systems. As a case study, a hybrid system comprising PV array, wind-turbine, battery bank and diesel engine is incorporated in hourly based simulations to meet power demand of a residence unit at Dhahran area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Different indicators related to economical and environmental performance assessments of the hybrid system have been considered. In the economic related assessment case, cost of electricity, energy excess percentage, and operating life cycle indicators have been considered and combined to develop the first overall performance index. Renewable contribution, renewable source availability and environmental impact indicators have been considered for the environmental assessment case and they are combined in the second performance index. For either economical or environmental cases, the optimum configuration of the system is achieved by maximizing the first and second overall performance indicators. This innovative optimization tools gives the designer the freedom to assign suitable weights associated with economical aspect, environmental impact, governmental regulations and social impact, for the first and second overall performance indicators, and combine them in the total performance index. The optimum system configuration is at the point where the total performance index is maximized.