Feasibility of Hybrid Wind and Photovoltaic Distributed Generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems Under Techno-Economic Regulation

Abstract

Many countries have considered the possibility of hybrid generation from renewable energy sources (RES), aiming at benefits for the electrical system. The increasing use of intermittent sources, as solar and wind, substantially alters grid operations. These operational challenges can be minimized by the incorporation of energy storage systems (ESS), which play a prominent role in increasing the reliability and stability of the grid. Thus, this study aims to assess the economic feasibility of distributed hybrid power-plants with battery energy storage system (BESS). Stochastic analyses are carried out by varying nine of the main variables in three sizes of PV powerplant: micro-plant, up to 10kW; miniplant, from 10kW up to 1MW, and small powerplant from 1 up to 5 MW installed power. In all of them, we have considered battery banks with supply capacity for five hours. All scenarios for distributed hybrid wind-PV system with BESS presented a high probability of viability. However, widespread use of BESS only will be encouraged by drop of batteries cost or some subsidy for ESS. The combined use of these RES have partially solved the problem related to white tariffs scheme combined with electric energy compensation system, aggregating energy production in the peak demand period.