Abstract

The search for alternatives to traditional sources of electric energy opens the way for a new market in the world, and for Brazil in particular. Still in its first steps, but with immense potential, the generation of energy from solar irradiation and hydroelectric plants in hybrid systems is an important alternative. On the other hand, single source power systems, when designed to meet a particular demand without fail, lead to low market acceptance due to the availability of resources and low efficiency in performance that rewards high initial investment costs. One solution to balance and optimize energy supply is the use of more than one energy resource when sources can be complementary. Among several possible combinations reported in several studies, the hybrid photovoltaic hydroelectric system is considered to be an optimal and interesting combination. In this context, the present article makes a technical and economic pre-feasibility analysis of a hydroelectric photovoltaic hybrid system, operating photovoltaic panels on floating structures on the water surface to allow the use of the Laranjeiras dam. The study was conducted based on simulations with HOMER. The solution indicated as optimal was the installation of a hybrid energy system, implementing a hydroelectric power plant at the base of the dam, with 1497 kW of installed capacity, operating simultaneously with a set of photovoltaic modules, on the water surface of the dam, with 180 kW of installed capacity, and a power limit for the purchase and sale to the grid equal to 400 kW, to supply the demand of consumer loads up to 40 MWh per day. This combination would result in an initial cost of US$3984.885 per kW and an energy cost of US$0.026 per kWh.

Highlights

  • The growing demand for electricity is due to the expectation of quality in supply and the dynamics of development as a response to population growth

  • The results of the simulations indicate that this pre-feasibility study should indicate the installation of a hydroelectric power plant at the base of the dam with 1497 kW installed power, with PV panels installed on floating structures on the surface of the reservoir, with a power of 180 kW, supplying a constant load of 40 MWh per day

  • This paper presents the main results of a pre-feasibility study of a hydroelectric photovoltaic hybrid system for the repowering of the Laranjeiras dam, in southern Brazil

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Summary

Introduction

The growing demand for electricity is due to the expectation of quality in supply and the dynamics of development as a response to population growth. Due to intermittent effects and variability of renewable resources on generation systems based on a single renewable source, the hybrid systems appear as an alternative to improve the performance and the balance and to allow a greater optimization in the electric energy supply. This article evaluates the technical and economic feasibility for the implementation of a hybrid photovoltaic hydroelectric system in the Laranjeiras dam, in southern Brazil This hybrid system will be composed of a hydroelectric plant operating without flow regulation, with PV modules installed on floating structures, on the water surface of the reservoir formed by the dam.

Laranjeiras Dam
Simulations with Homer and the Proposed System
Results and Discussion
Conclusions
Full Text
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