The intelligent modelling and optimization of an economic and ecosystem-friendly model for grid connected prosumer community

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 1; p. e0276510
• Main Authors: Mussadiq, Usman, Ahmed, Saeed, Sajid, Muhammad, Elkamchouch, Dalia H, Hussain, Lal, Gaddah, Abdulbaset, Al-Wesabi, Fahd N, Hilal, Anwer Mustafa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 20.01.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Alternative energy; Batteries; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomass; Carbon; Carbon emissions; Consumption; Data collection; Demand analysis; Developing countries; Economic models; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Emissions; Energy demand; Energy minerals; Energy resources; Energy storage; Engineering and Technology; Fossil Fuels; LDCs; Methods; Modelling; Optimization; Optimization techniques; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Physical Sciences; Power supply; Production processes; Protection and preservation; Renewable resources; Rural areas; Search algorithms; Sensitivity analysis; Simulation; Simulation methods; Social Sciences; Software; Wind power; Pakistan; Ghana
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276510

The establishment of grid-connected prosumer communities to bridge the demand-supply gap in developing nations, especially in rural areas will assist to minimize the use of carbon enriched fossil fuels and the resulting economic pressure. In the promoted study, an economic and ecosystem-friendly hybrid energy model is proposed for grid-connected prosumer community of 147 houses in district Kotli, AJK. The grid search algorithm-based HOMER software is used to simulate and analyze the load demand and biomass sources-based onsite collected data through a survey for an optimal proposed design. The research objectives are to minimize the net present cost (USD) of design, the per unit cost of energy (USD/kWh), and the carbon emissions (kgs/year). A sensitivity analysis based on photovoltaic module lifetime is also performed. The simulations show that the per unit cost of energy is reduced from 0.1 USD/kWh to 0.001 USD/kWh for the annual energy demand (kWh/year) of the community. The number of carbon emissions is also minimized from 122056 kgs/year to 1628 kgs/year through the proposed optimal energy model.