A Novel Hybrid Polygeneration System Based on Biomass, Wind and Solar Energy for Micro-Scale Isolated Communities

Abstract

The availability of freshwater and energy is a serious issue in remote and islanded areas, especially at a small scale, where there may not be the possibility to access the grid and/or water distribution systems. In this context, polygeneration systems operating on the basis of local, renewable energy sources can be an answer to the users’ demand for electricity, heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. The scope of the proposed paper was to investigate, numerically, the energy and economic feasibility of a novel hybrid polygeneration system powered by biomass, solar, and wind energy for a micro-district of households. The proposed system consists of a biomass-fueled steam cycle, wind turbine, photovoltaic field coupled with thermal and electrical energy storage, adsorption chiller, and a reverse osmosis water desalination unit. The system is also assisted by an LPG generator set running as backup. The system provides space heating and cooling, electrical energy, and fresh and domestic hot water to 10 households located on Pantelleria Island, Italy. The proposed system is modelled and simulated through TRNSYS software with realistic user demand. The energy and economic performance of the proposed system are assessed with respect to a reference system in different scenarios, taking into account islanded operation, connection to the grid, and biomass tariffs. The results show that the proposed system achieves an excellent primary energy saving performance in all the investigated scenarios, with savings of more than 94% for all the investigated scenarios. Excluding any kind of funding, in case of new investment for the system, the simple payback oscillates between 7 and 12 years, showing that the developed alternative is fairly valid with respect to traditional solutions.

Experimental Analysis of a Polygeneration System: Assessment of the Thermal Sub-System

“…Thermal heat storage can be subdivided into three categories: sensible, latent, and thermochemical heat storage. However, due to the lack of commercially available thermochemical heat storage solutions, and due to high material costs and unknown lifespan, the most used are sensible and latent heat storage [7].…”

“…The objective was to identify gaps in the literature, justifying the development of this novel research. Figaj et al [7] developed a system to provide space heating and cooling (using a Rankine cycle), electrical energy, and fresh and domestic hot water to 10 households located in an isolated community, located in Italy. The hybrid system is based on biomass, wind, and solar energy.…”

A Hybrid Renewable Energy (Solar/Wind/Biomass) and Multi-Use System Principles, Types, and Applications: A Review

“…The authors reported that the energy demand was 3.5 MWh. On Pantelleria Island in Italy, Figaj et al [15] used TRNSYS software to quantitatively examine a hybrid system powered via biomass, solar, wind, and a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) generator for multi-use for 10 families. The findings demonstrate that the suggested system provides excellent primary energy-saving performance in each of the examined situations, with an average saving of more than 94 percent.…”

“…In this section, some papers and points related to the multiple uses of energy hybrid systems will be discussed. Studies for the best HRES design to use CHP to meet energy needs were given by Figaj et al [15,16,18], Figaj and Żoł ądek [17], and Figaj [19] for Poland. Figaj et al [15] quantitatively examined a hybrid system powered by biomass/solar/wind/ LPG generators for providing electricity, fresh water, heating, cooling, and domestic hot water for 10 families.…”

Key Processes for the Energy Use of Biomass in Rural Sectors of Latin America

“…On the other hand, biomass energy generation costs depend on its final use (industrial or domestic processes, heating or electricity). For example, in household applications, the energy from biomass is used in cooking, heating and biomass boilers to produce hot water for the home by burning chips, logs, olive pits, pellets or briquettes [28][29][30]. Meanwhile, in collective applications (industrial process), the cost will depend on the installed thermal power of the thermal plant, piping, maintenance, system operation and price of the biomass source [31][32][33].…”