A Hybrid vs. On-Grid Photovoltaic System: Multicriteria Analysis of Environmental, Economic, and Technical Aspects in Life Cycle Perspective

Abstract

Hybrid photovoltaic installations, defined as on-grid PV system in cooperation with battery energy storage system (BESS), are still rare among the typical investors because the investment cost of the hybrid installation is significantly higher than the one of the on-grid system. However, while considering the broader perspective, such as environmental or technological aspects, the mentioned solution can be competitive with photovoltaic on-grid systems and therefore should be carefully tested in the widest possible context. In this study, the authors compared 3.05 kW of peak power hybrid and on-grid installations operating in temperate climate conditions (Eastern Poland) using economic indicators, such as dynamic generation cost (DGC) and benefit–cost rate (BCR); environmental impact indicators (IMPACT 2002+ and GWP 100a) determined using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); and technological aspects consideration, including the reliability of examined systems. Creating a ranking of the considered solutions based on the equal weighting factors assigned to the appropriate features allows indicating the technological areas where the competitiveness of hybrid systems justifies the increased investment costs. One such area is business, where the economic criterion, the only negatively assessed one in the standard operation, can be radically changed by the possible financial losses due to interruption of energy supply.

Analysis of the Return on Investment in Solar Collectors on the Example of a Household: The Case of Poland

“…The greatest amount of solar energy in Poland reaches the collector surface in June when the sky is cloudless, when the sun is at its highest point above the horizon (62.4°). In December, on the other hand, this energy is much lower because the Sun is at the lowest point (15.5°) (Global solar Atlas, 2020; NASA Solar Radiation, 2020; Chwieduk and Chwieduk, 2020;Zelazna et al, 2020;The World Bank, 2020). Summer months are characterized by the greatest number of hours of insolation; direct radiation may constitute 90% of the total radiation reaching the earth and thus reach 1,050 W/m 2 .…”

The Impact of Electricity Consumption Profile in Underground Mines to Cooperate with RES

“…The need to maintain stability and modernization of the energy networks is particularly important due to the distributed nature of these sources. In order to prevent the generation of disturbances in the grid, sources such as PV installations should be balanced directly at the point of consumption of the energy they produce (households, housing cooperatives and enterprises) [20][21][22][23]. While the energy produced in the micro-installation will be consumed on an ongoing basis, in the case of the construction of PV installations with significant power, for the own needs of industrial recipients such as a mining plant, this consistency becomes particularly important.…”

“…In view of the adopted climate obligations, hard coal mining in Poland will end before 2050, i.e., after the typical lifetime of PV installations (approx. 25-30 years) [22]. However, even with a drastic tightening of the climate policy, potential PV installations used for the needs of existing mining plants can supply electricity to mine water drainage and treatment stations, reducing the costs incurred after the mines' closure [24].…”

Analysis of Selected Service Industries in Terms of the Use of Photovoltaics before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…There is a large shift from fossil fuelbased systems to clean technologies and an economy based on sustainable resources [3,4]. Even though more and more countries in the world are promoting policies based mainly on the use of sustainable energy sources as factors mitigating climate change, ensuring energy security and sustainable economic development [5][6][7][8], the cost of producing electricity from renewable sources is still higher than from fossil fuels [9,10]. As a result, it is consumers who pay the highest price for green electricity [11].…”