Operation Simulation and Economic Analysis of Household Hybrid PV and BESS Systems in the Improved TOU Mode

Abstract

With the popularization of electric vehicles and electric boilers, household electricity consumption will increase significantly. Household hybrid photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage systems (BESSs) can supply increasing household electricity consumption without expanding the existing distribution network. This paper validates the technical feasibility of connecting a large number of household power users that contain BESSs and PVs in a distribution line by a simulation in Matlab. In addition to technical feasibility, this article improves the time-of-use (TOU) form to achieve economic feasibility (covering equipment costs). In the past, the TOU was set from the perspective of the load demand of the grid, but the actual user participation would affect this effect. In this paper, based on a social science survey, a new three-level rate TOU is introduced, which has little impact on residents’ lifestyle, to effectively increase the response frequency effectively. Combined with the improved TOU and the state of PVs, the BESS control mode is set for simulation. To compare the three-tier rate TOU with the normal TOU tariff and select the best household BESS size, a MATLAB simulation is used to simulate the common household BESS capacity. The results indicate that the combination of the three-tier rate TOU with a 4 kWh household BESS can afford the investment of household PVs and BESSs. The high cost issue that previously primarily limited the true use of BESSs is expected to be resolved.

When the Household Becomes Environmentally Friendly—Dynamic Simulation of Hybrid Energy System’s Feasibility

“…The main factors driving this trend are the practically zero emissions produced and the abundance of primary energy sources. However, the intermittency of the supplied energy due to weather conditions [3,4] and supply-demand displacement in time [5] significantly limits the direct utilization of renewable sources in power systems. Additionally, the operation of power systems, whether on a broader or smaller scale, is characterized by an uneven energy demand, which necessitates conditions for load balancing [6].…”

“…Environments 2023, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 and provide it during peak load periods, ensuring flexibility on different time scales Moreover, for individual consumers, i.e., households, this creates an opportunity to crease the self-consumption of solar energy [8] and achieve grid independence, as we gain economic benefits by storing energy during low-price periods [9]. Battery ene storage has been identified as the dominant type used at household scale [4,5], altho the high battery price limits their outspread in households [5].…”

“…The analysis considers particular climatic conditions (Latvia is used for the case study) and the current level of development in the field of energy storage. The evaluated scenarios include solar panel (PV) use for renewable energy generation in households, as they are the most widely available technology, and lithium-ion batteries for energy storage, as they are the most widespread technology [4,5], and they are a technology with high potential to be an optimal solution for energy storage. Overall, the system's profitability is assessed for four configuration scenarios and considering varied electricity prices.…”