Minimum cost solution of photovoltaic–diesel–battery hybrid power systems for remote consumers

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 96; pp. 292 - 299
• Main Authors: Tazvinga, Henerica, Xia, Xiaohua, Zhang, Jiangfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2013; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Control strategy; Correlation analysis; Cost analysis; Cost estimates; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Economic dispatch; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical machines; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Energy; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Hybrid system; Operation efficiency; Operation. Load control. Reliability; Optimisation algorithm; Photovoltaic cells; Power networks and lines; Regulation and control; Seasons; Optimisation algorithm; Economic dispatch; Energy efficiency; Control strategy; Operation efficiency; Hybrid system; Performance evaluation; Dispatching problem; Energy consumption; Costs; Load distribution; Diesel fuel; Daily variation; Optimization; Electric power consumption; Energy flow; Control system; Diesel engine; Secondary cell; Algorithm; Renewable energy sources; Electrical network; Summing circuits; Hybrid power systems; Economic aspect; Comparative study
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2013.07.030
• ISSN: 0038-092X

•An optimal energy dispatch model of a PV–diesel–battery hybrid system is proposed.•The cost function minimizes fuel costs subject to given constraints.•We analyse energy flows in the system in a 24-h period.•Effect of daily and seasonal variations in demand on fuel cost is shown. Hybrid systems present a new dimension to the time correlation of intermittent renewable energy sources. The paper considers the daily energy consumption variations for winter and summer weekdays and weekends in order to compare the corresponding fuel costs and evaluate the operational efficiency of the hybrid system for a 24-h period. Previous studies have assumed a fixed load and uniform daily operational cost. A load following diesel dispatch strategy is employed in this work and the fuel costs and energy flows are analysed. The results show that the photovoltaic–diesel–battery model achieves 73% and 77% fuel savings in winter and 80.5% and 82% fuel savings in summer for days considered when compared to the case where the diesel generator satisfies the load on its own. The fuel costs obtained during both winter and summer seasons for weekdays and weekends show substantial variations which should not be neglected if accurate operation costs are to be achieved. The results indicate that the developed model can achieve a more practical estimate of the fuel costs reflecting variations of power consumption behavior patterns for any given system.