Open AccessDesign and optimization of grid Integrated hybrid on-site energy generation system for rural area in AJK-Pakistan using HOMER software
Author(s) -
Muti Ur Rehman Tahir,
Adil Amin,
Ateeq Ahmed Baig,
Sajjad Manzoor,
Anwar Ul Haq,
Muhammad Awais Asgha,
Wahab Khawaja
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aims energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.294
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2333-8334
pISSN - 2333-8326
DOI - 10.3934/energy.2021051
Subject(s) - renewable energy , environmental economics , photovoltaic system , electricity generation , fossil fuel , grid , distributed generation , electricity , unit cost , population , electric power system , engineering , computer science , environmental science , power (physics) , economics , electrical engineering , waste management , geography , mechanical engineering , physics , demography , quantum mechanics , sociology , geodesy
Power sector plays a crucial role in the development of a country. Rise in population and industrial expansion in developing countries are reason to burdenize the central grid. Pakistan is a country in its developing stages. About 58% of its total energy generation is contributed by fossil fuel based conventional plants for which the fuel costs plenteous amount. In these circumstances it is indispensable to exploit naturally available renewable resources for electricity generation. This study proposes a hybrid hydro-kinetic/Photovoltaic/Biomass system integrated with grid to serve electricity in a residential area of district Kotli in AJK Pakistan. By evaluating available resources and total load demand data of residential consumers, a system design is modelled in HOMER to get techno-economic and optimal design analysis of the purposed system. Using several configurations and combinations of available energy generation systems and then by comparing their results, the most optimum system design is achieved in terms of initial cost, operating cost, cost per unit and net present cost of the system. To further refine the results, the effect of variations of different parameters like load demand, water flow speed and solar irradiance on system is investigated by performing sensitivity analysis on the system. Final results demonstrate that the purposed system is cost-effective and efficient to meet the load demand.