Comparative analyses of solar photovoltaic, wind turbine, and solar photovoltaic and wind turbine hybrid systems: Case study of Thailand

Abstract

Thailand is rapidly moving toward sustainable electricity generation by employing renewable energy systems, particularly solar photovoltaic systems and wind turbines. While various aspects of renewable energy resources in Thailand have been represented in the literature, the modeling of renewable energy systems, particularly hybrid solar photovoltaic and wind energy systems, have rarely been studied. To cover this gap, four renewable energy modeling tools, SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, and RETScreen, were used to model solar photovoltaic systems (PVS), wind turbine systems (WTS), and solar photovoltaic-wind turbine hybrid systems (PVWHS) for residential applications in Thailand. The developed models were validated to ensure their accuracy by comparing the estimated annual electricity generation to the actual energy yield from the real systems. The PVS modeling results from SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, and RETScreen contained errors of 3.6, 6.9, 5.5, and -3.9%, respectively. The WTS modeling results from HOMER and RETScreen had 15.7% and 18.1% deviations from the real system, respectively. The simulation results show that a 6.6 kW PVS is the most economical system in Chaiyaphum with high solar irradiance whereas a PVWHS (6.05 PVS and 1 kW WTS) is the best system in Sa Kaeo with a high wind speed and average solar irradiance. The PVS, WTS, and PVWHS simulations were also performed in seven different regions across Thailand; Chanthaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kanchanaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Samutprakan, Chiang Rai, and Maha Sarakham. It was found that only Chanthaburi with a 7.7 m/s average wind speed is suitable to install PVWHS while PVS is the most economical system for the rest of the locations. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to create a diagram that can help to identify the most economically suitable system with respect to solar irradiance and wind speed. The results indicate that PVWHS is a viable option for some regions in Thailand.