Optimizing the size of a hybrid renewable energy system using various types of storage technologies

Abstract

Hybrid renewable energy (HRE) systems without connection to the grid have a series of drawbacks due to the lack of reliability in the predictability of the climate, for this reason it is necessary to achieve the optimal sizing of the system components together with reliable storage systems to ensure the correct energy supply. At present commercially there are several storage technologies, lead acid batteries are the most used however they are losing space compared to lithium ion in stationary applications despite the uncertainties for cost and profitability, another technology is pumped hydro, appears as a clean solution unlike the previous ones. In this document the hybrid system composed of photovoltaic panels, a biogas generator and the three types of storage individually by means of technological tools is optimized, the result of the techno-economical simulation indicates that the system with pumped hydro has the lowest energy cost (COE) with 0.299 $/kWh, while the system with acid lead batteries has the highest energy cost at 0.401 $/kWh but has the lowest initial project cost 1.05 M$, lithium ion batteries reach a longer life time.