Optimal Design of a Stand-Alone Residential Hybrid Microgrid System for Enhancing Renewable Energy Deployment in Japan

Yuichiro Yoshida,Hooman Farzaneh

doi:10.3390/en13071737

Abstract

This paper aims at the optimal designing of a stand-alone microgrid (PV/wind/battery/diesel) system, which can be utilized to meet the demand load requirements of a small residential area in Kasuga City, Fukuoka. The simulation part is developed to estimate the electrical power generated by each component, taking into account the variation of the weather parameters, such as wind, solar irradiation, and ambient temperature. The optimal system design is then based on the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method to find the optimal configuration of the proposed system, using the least-cost perspective approach.

Highlights

Japan’s energy self-sufficiency rate was as low as 9.6% in 2017, indicating the energy security issues in this country [1]
The energy self-sufficiency rate indicates the proportion of primary energy required for daily life and economic activities that can be secured in the country [2]
One way to avoid this problem is to use Distributed Energy Resources (DER), which enables the decentralization of the electric power sector in Japan

Summary

Introduction

Japan’s energy self-sufficiency rate was as low as 9.6% in 2017, indicating the energy security issues in this country [1]. The energy self-sufficiency rate indicates the proportion of primary energy required for daily life and economic activities that can be secured in the country [2]. Japan’s electric power industry faces a wide range of challenges, including the reliance on imports of fossil fuels through the immediate nuclear power phase-out and further focusing on reducing and decarbonizing its energy system [3,4]. Initiatives are underway to decentralize the power sector in Japan from the centralized fossil fuel-based systems to distributed ones. One way to avoid this problem is to use Distributed Energy Resources (DER), which enables the decentralization of the electric power sector in Japan. A microgrid is a combination of various interconnected DER and loads that can operate as a grid-tied (connected to the grid) or a stand-alone (disconnected from the grid) controllable system

Methods

Results

Conclusion