Sizing of a solar-wind hybrid electric vehicle charging station by using HOMER software

Abstract

Although, fossil fuels are still the main source that used to balance the global demand/supply dynamics of energy; most countries have embarked on a quest to reach a solution and started changing their direction from fossil resources (especially oil and gas) to other resources by creating new opportunities with a focus meeting the increasing energy demand by reducing it via energy efficiency. “Transportation” is one of the biggest items of global energy consumption with 24% usage percentage and most of this amount is supplied by conventional energy resources. However, worldwide supporting policies and regulations are positively affected the starting period of environment-friendly use of energy resources. It expedited the process of new technological developments that minimize waste, lower the level of air pollution caused by fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engines, conserve forests and decrease the emissions of greenhouse gases. Worldwide extension of “Electric Vehicle Development and Production” is one of the main concern of these regulations. However, increasing the number of electric vehicles also brings sustainability problems such as; supplying the electricity from renewable resources in an efficient and sustainable way, handling the electricity load on the grid, and establishment of new charging stations. Therefore, in this study a wind solar hybrid energy charging station designed and optimized via HOMER software. The sizing methodology is suitable to apply anywhere around the worldwide. The optimal solution for the hybrid system consists of 44.4% wind energy and 55.6% solar energy and the annual electricity production is 843150 kWh with the 0.064 $/kWh production cost.