A fuzzy decision-making model for optimal design of solar, wind, diesel-based RO desalination integrating flow-battery and pumped-hydro storage: Case study in Baltim, Egypt

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2021-05, Vol.235, p.113962, Article 113962
• Main Authors: Kotb, Kotb M., Elkadeem, M.R., Khalil, Ahmed, Imam, Sherif M., Hamada, Mohamed A., Sharshir, Swellam W., Dán, András
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternatives; Bromine; Carbon dioxide; Converters; Decision making; Desalination; Desalination plants; Design; Diesel; Diesel generators; Economic analysis; Economic models; Electric power demand; Energy storage; Feasibility; Flow batteries; Fuzzy AHP; Fuzzy logic; Fuzzy sets; Fuzzy VIKOR; Hybrid renewable energy systems; Hybrid systems; Load distribution; Multicriteria decision making; Multiple criterion; Optimization; Photovoltaics; Power sources; Pumped hydro energy storage; Rechargeable batteries; Reverse osmosis; Sensitivity analysis; Turbines; Wind power; Wind turbines
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2021.113962

•Solar-wind-diesel hybrid system is proposed for a large-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant.•A 3E fuzzy decision-making optimization model is developed for ten distinct energy systems.•Performance of flow batteries and pumped hydro storage technologies are investigated and compared.•Hybrid system with battery option results in better energy, economic, and ecological benefits.•Sensitivity analysis on storage cost show more savings in NPC and COE with pumped hydro than the battery. This paper aims to propose a conceptual design model for sustainable hybrid renewable stand-alone energy system (HRSES) to meet the electricity demand of a large-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant in Baltim, Egypt. The model investigates the feasibility of different HRSES alternatives and develop a fuzzy-based multicriteria decision-making model for meticulously selecting the optimal energy solution. Both zinc-bromine flow battery and turbine-pumped hydro energy storage technologies are integrated independently with wind, solar, and diesel power sources. Firstly, the proposed model uses HOMER software to execute an energy-economic-ecological optimization analysis for studying the practicability and components sizing of nine HRSES alternatives. Second, an integration between Fuzzy-AHP and Fuzzy-VIKOR decision-making methods is executed to choose the best design considering ten performance criteria. In the second stage, the fuzzy environment is engaged to expedite decision-makers to express their ratings in linguistic terms and to achieve more sensible and accurate results. Among ten feasible alternatives, the results reveal that the optimal system consists of 5 × 20-kW wind turbines, 328-kW photovoltaic array, 100-kW diesel generator, 112 batteries and 235-kW converter. This system has the best economic performance among all alternatives with least NPC, COE, and payback-period of $1,048,046, 0.101$/kWh and 1.1 yr, respectively. Besides, it has a treasured share of renewable of 95.55%; hence, it produces a realistic CO2 of 25,426.46 kg/year. Lastly, the sensitivity analysis illuminates that the future load growth and low-interest rate hurt upcoming investments while the projected reduction in the cost of energy storages has an encouraging influence on financing decisions.