Cost-beneficial Analysis of Utilizing a Combination of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Abstract

The aim of this article is to evaluate the use of a combination of renewable and non-renewable resources according to profitability. This research is performed considering the increased consumption and the need for more distributed generation in the power grid of Iran, as well as the increasing use of renewable resources, the need for reducing carbon dioxide and air pollution. It has been noted that the use of renewable sources is limited, impossible or cannot be used permanently. Therefore, the importance of combining renewable and non-renewable resources is emphasized. This paper proposes optimizing the cost of combined resources and reducing air pollution. Homer software has been used for evaluating and exploring the prospects for choosing the optimal combination of sources. The Homer software and modeling of energy is considered as a useful tool for analyzing and designing power systems. It can include a combination of non-renewable sources (such as diesel types with different fuels like gas, coal, oil) and renewable resources (including wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, hydropower, biomass as well as other inputs like batteries and converters). This case study is about the Khorasan Razavi Electricity Network in the east of Iran (Mashhad site). The results showed that the proposed electricity cost of this software is 0.314 $/kWh. The use of the proposed power system to meet customer loads also resulted in a reduction in emission of CO2 levels from 151,557,554 kg/yr. to 85,574,451 kg/yr.