Homer’s Feasibility Analysis of a Hybrid System with a Grid Connection Option for the Mauritanian Northern Coast

Abstract

On Mauritania’s northern coast, wind and solar resources are abundant and must be used effectively. These resources have the potential to completely or partially replace the existing or projected diesel generators. The main objective of this case study is to study the possibility of using a hybrid system (HS) of the type (diesel, wind and storage). The most important part of this case study intended for this area will be to add the solar in a first phase and then the incorporation of an interconnection with the nearby network in a second phase. This interconnection will be secured by mean of medium voltage lines of 33 kV, where the nearest point is located 35 km away. Indeed, the study of the optimization model is carried out through Homer, which was developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL]. Thus, it should be noted that the HS is analyzed on the basis of costs ($/kW) and price ($/kWh) and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, in order to achieve these techno-economic optimization objectives, this paper introduces a sensitivity analysis that has been proposed to determine the effect of costs on each HS configuration. In the end, HSs are needed for maximum use of renewable resources at the studied site for an uninterrupted power supply.