Multi-Objective Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy System

Abstract

Access to electricity is the basic need for any community to uplift the standard of living by the virtue of improvement of healthcare, education, and the local economy. However, most of the rural areas do not have access to electricity and providing in such areas by the increasing scope of the electrical grid often proves expensive and, in some cases, it is not possible. Renewable energy aims to offer energy at a reasonable and acceptable price. However, its power generation is inconsistent. The Hybrid Renewable Energy system aims to address this problem, as it combines two or more sources of renewable energy and aims to deliver a constant and continuous stream of power. The combination of HRES can be selected according to the needs, feasibility, and availability. It had been observed that not much research work was carried out with Biomass gasifier in HRES, moreover, even where it had been incorporated it was optimized in single objective. This Research Project thus aimed to work in this area and carry Multi-objective optimization using MOEA. The multi-objectives that can be applied to HRES are economical, social, environmental and reliability. The objectives considered are economical and social i.e., Minimizing the LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy while Maximizing the HDI (Human Development Index). In the present work, the ‘Solar PV - Wind Turbine - Biomass Gasifier’ type of HRES has been selected for Billimora, Gujarat location which is connected to the Grid. The simulation is done using MATLAB and the Genetic-Algorithm search technique has been implemented for optimization, i.e. to find the optimal configuration of individual RER, minimizing the LCOE and maximizing the HDI. Using reference data for factors such as Load Demand, Solar irradiation, Wind velocity and Biofuel availability for the selected location; the individual year-round power generation requirement had been calculated to meet the hourly Load demand, based on which the GA will return the optimal configuration for Solar PV, Wind Turbine and Biomass Gasifier. The simulation is done in such a way that Bio-mass Gasifier will be only recruited if the hourly demand is not met by Solar PV, Wind Turbine which is a cheap and more reliable form of energy. As it is further connected to the grid; The surplus energy generated is sold to the grid while if the Load demand is not met by all RER combined, the deficit energy is purchased from the grid to satisfy the load demand. The Results indicates that the optimal configuration for HRES is the capacity of Solar PV - 13.9 MW, Wind Turbine - 11.7 MW and Biomass Gasifier - 2.1 MW. Moreover, it returns LCOE as 6.3802 ₹/kWh and HDI as 0.7046 which falls under the high Human development range. The total annual Load demand for the location is 111650 MWh; out of which the contribution of Solar Energy is 28.14 %, Wind Energy contributes 22.39 %, Biomass gasifier contributes 13.25 %; while the rest of Energy is purchased from the grid which is 38.76%. The surplus energy generated, sold to the Grid is 1298 MWh. The plant load factor (PLF) of Solar PV, Wind turbine and Biomass gasifier is 0.2575, 0.2444 and 0.7751 respectively.