Hybrid power systems – Sizes, efficiencies, and economics

Shafiqur Rehman

doi:10.1177/0144598720965022

Abstract

In the context of electricity generation in the oil and gas producing countries, it has become implicit to develop new, clean, and renewable sources of energy to supplement the fossil fuel based power generation. With this single aim, one can hit two targets, conservation of fixed fossil fuel resources and combat the adverse climatic changes to safeguard our planet. In regional context, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind power, geothermal, and hydro power are alternative sources for power mitigation. Of these renewables, wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), diesel, and energy storage in hybrid combinations are the possible ways to supply continuous energy for all sizes of applications. This paper provides a review of the existing hybrid power systems and the theoretical studies around the globe in varied climatological conditions to identify the best combinations of hybrid systems for Saudi Arabia to supplement the existing energy portfolio. The wind/solar-pv, wind/solar-pv/diesel, and solar-pv/diesel with and without battery backup are most commonly used systems with respective popularity of 28, 22, and 21%. Among users, remote communities are the highest while islands and communication towers are the next common applications. Average costs of energy of wind/solar-pv, wind/solar-pv/diesel, and solar-pv/diesel are around 0.458, 0.355, and 0.349 US$/kWh.

Highlights

In this era of fast technological development and industrialization, the task of providing clean and cost effective electricity to each individual, remains a challenge
The analysis showed that a PV-BAT with 6.0 kW PV and 108.0 kWh of battery backup was the best choice with a cost of energy (COE) of 0.238 US$/kWh while PV-DSL-BAT with 8.0 PV, 2.0 kW DSL, and 108.0 kWh of battery was the second best choice with a COE of 0.272 US$/kWh to meet the load of the clinic
Hybrid power systems (HPS) are being used for power supply to communities, communication tower, islands, alpine huts, industrial fencing, etc. and help in load sharing and mitigation of the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions

Summary

Introduction

In this era of fast technological development and industrialization, the task of providing clean and cost effective electricity to each individual, remains a challenge. With more than a billion people lacking access to electricity, local power-generation solutions are essential to provide sustainable energy to all but to those users who are expected to remain isolated from national or regional grids for the near future. The number of people, not having access to electricity, has improved a bit after dedicated efforts over several years and gone below one billion mark 2016 (IRENA, 2019). The global electrification rate reached 87% due to universal access to electricity efforts in 2016. The electricity availability rates in rural areas have improved at faster pace and today stand at about 76%. Renewable power generation provides low-cost solutions to bring reliable electricity to rural households or island communities off the main grid. The off-grid renewable energy systems are expanding rapidly on the ground

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion