Analysis of multi-distributed generation systems based on solar/biomass/natural gas/diesel energy resources for off-grid application

Abstract

This study presents the analysis of multi-distributed generation systems for 20 off-grid homes in Ogun State based on the techno-environmental analysis planning (TEAP) approach. The technical aspect includes the load, DG capacities, energy generation/year, and the unmet energy demand (UED. The paper considers and compares different energy configurations such as the PV-based DG, the hybrid DGs: PV/biogas, PV/biogas/natural gas, PV/biogas/diesel, PV/diesel, and the diesel-based DGs. The environmental aspect examines the emissions produced by the DGs compared to a diesel-based DG system. The paper also examines the effect of temperature on the performance of the PV system. The simulation is based on a total daily demand of 99.04 kWh/d, and the solar, ambient temperature and the biomass data in Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) environment. The size of the PV-based DG obtained is 36.9 kW, which generates 54,565 kWh/yr without temperature effect. Result shows that this value reduced to 48,268 kWh/yr with temperature effect and the value of UED is 7.84 %. The biogas, natural gas and diesel generators have the same size of 13.2 kW. The hybrid DGs achieve a UED of 0% implying 100 % system availability. Results further demonstrate that the mentioned hybrid DGs have CO2 emissions that range between 2.21 and 15, 448 kg/yr, compared to a value of 40, 273 kg/yr obtained when the homes are entirely run on a diesel-based DG. The study can help to understand energy systems analysis.