Optimization of wind/solar energy microgrid by division algorithm considering human health and environmental impacts for power-water cogeneration

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2022-01, Vol.252, p.115064, Article 115064
• Main Authors: Kiehbadroudinezhad, Mohammadali, Merabet, Adel, Rajabipour, Ali, Cada, Michael, Kiehbadroudinezhad, Shahideh, Khanali, Majid, Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Algorithms; Alternative energy sources; Batteries; Cogeneration; Desalination; Diesel; Diesel fuels; Diesel generators; Distributed generation; Division algorithm; Electric power; Electric power grids; Electricity distribution; Electricity pricing; Energy; Energy management; Environmental impact; Environmental impacts; Fresh water; Genetic algorithms; Hybrid systems; Life cycle cost; Life cycle costs; Life cycles; Multiple objective analysis; Optimization; Photovoltaics; Population growth; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Reverse osmosis; Seawater; Solar energy; System reliability; Turbines; Wind power; Wind turbines
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2021.115064

[Display omitted] •Three water/power generation configurations were designed, modeled, and optimized.•Damage to human health and the ecosystem caused by diesel generator were estimated.•Division algorithm was more accurate and faster than the genetic algorithms.•Desalination with photovoltaic panel/wind turbine was environmentally efficient.•Desalination with the photovoltaic panels was economically the best configuration. Although freshwater is necessary for the well-being of humankind, increasing population growth and limited resources lead to a serious crisis to supply freshwater. Since the Earth is surrounded by seawater, desalination based on electrical power is introduced as a promising technology to provide freshwater. It is well documented that the connection of remote areas that usually do not have access to freshwater into the electricity grid is not affordable and eco-friendly. Hence, the efforts to design and construct high reliability, cost-effective, and eco-friendly stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system in remote areas. In line with this, this paper describes a novel energy management system for the optimized operation of a stand-alone hybrid energy system based on photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, batteries, and diesel generator. For this purpose, a multi-objective optimization problem is formulated by combining three objective functions, i.e., minimum the total life cycle cost as well as environmental impacts on human health and ecosystems and the maximum system reliability that can conflict with each. To solve the multi-objective optimization problem, a division algorithm is proposed that is more flexible and faster compared with conventional algorithms such as genetic algorithm. In order to show the proposed framework, a real case study in Larak Island, Iran, with appropriate solar and wind is considered. The effectiveness of the applied approach compared with optimization results of genetic algorithm and the artificial bee swarm optimization algorithm that was previously used successfully to solve optimization problems related to desalination integrated with the renewable energy system. The optimization is performed based on different diesel fuel price amounts (0.2, 0.5, and 1 $/liter). It is seen that at fuel price set to 0.2 and 0.5 $/liter, the seawater reverses osmosis desalination/photovoltaic/diesel generator/battery is the most cost-effective energy system, and when fuel price is 1 $/liter, the seawater reverses osmosis de