Optimised sizing of a hybrid renewable water pumping system based on recent metaheuristic algorithms: a case study in Algeria

Abstract

This paper proposes a new design model for techno-economic analysis and optimization of water pumping systems. The model incorporates the Levelised Cost of Water Pumped (LCOWP) as the objective function to capture the economic criterion, while the technical criterion is represented by the Loss of Water Supply Probability (LWSP). The model integrates three decision variables: the number of PV modules, wind turbines and water tanks, which is a unique combination that has been rarely explored in previous studies.. To address the complexity of this non-linear discrete optimization problem, the Equilibrium Optimiser (EO), a recent metaheuristic algorithm, is employed. Comparative analysis conducted against four other algorithms demonstrates the superior accuracy and convergence time of EO, establishing its effectiveness. To showcase the practicality of the model, it is utilised to optimise a water pumping system for irrigation in Adrar, Algeria, considering four different pumping heads and exploring various reliability levels (represented by LWSP). The sizing results demonstrate how the LCOWP is influenced by the pumping heads and the desired LWSP. For instance, at a pumping head of 45 m, the cost decreases from 1.181$/m3 with 0% LWSP to 0.991$/m3 when accepting 1% LWSP.