Optimal Sizing and Scheduling of Hybrid Energy Systems: The Cases of Morona Santiago and the Galapagos Islands

Abstract

Hybrid energy systems (HESs) generate electricity from multiple energy sources that complement each other. Recently, due to the reduction in costs of photovoltaic (PV) modules and wind turbines, these types of systems have become economically competitive. In this study, a mathematical programming model is applied to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of autonomous units located in two isolated areas of Ecuador: first, the province of Galapagos (subtropical island) and second, the province of Morona Santiago (Amazonian tropical forest). The two case studies suggest that HESs are potential solutions to reduce the dependence of rural villages on fossil fuels and viable mechanisms to bring electrical power to isolated communities in Ecuador. Our results reveal that not only from the economic but also from the environmental point of view, for the case of the Galapagos province, a hybrid energy system with a PV–wind–battery configuration and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) equal to 0.36 $/kWh is the optimal energy supply system. For the case of Morona Santiago, a hybrid energy system with a PV–diesel–battery configuration and an LCOE equal to 0.37 $/kWh is the most suitable configuration to meet the load of a typical isolated community in Ecuador. The proposed optimization model can be used as a decision-support tool for evaluating the viability of autonomous HES projects at any other location.

Analysis of Control Strategies Based on Virtual Inertia for the Improvement of Frequency Stability in an Islanded Grid with Wind Generators and Battery Energy Storage Systems

“…An immediate solution to this problem would be to increase the number of diesel units in the microgrid, in order to strengthen the equivalent inertial response of the system. However, this measure is difficult to apply given the island's enormous ecological interest [27,28].…”

Simulation and Analysis Approaches to Microgrid Systems Design: Emerging Trends and Sustainability Framework Application

“…Planning Dimension Software/Technique Technical and economic design, modelling and performance analysis of microgrid systems based on renewable and non-renewable resources and storage TE MILP [10]; HOMER/ANN-BP and LM [11]; optimal and sensitivity analysis [13]; HOMER/comparative analysis [14,15]; MANGO [16]; HOMER/integrated analysis [18]; modified non-dominated sorting GA [19]; MATLAB/MILP [20]; mixed integer MOO [22]; GA [23]; HOMER [24]; Monte Carlo simulation [25]; HOMER/PSO [26]; HOMER/TOPSIS [27]; HOMER/MATLAB [28]; GA [32]; HOMER/MATLAB [33]; HOMER/MATLAB/DSM [34]; HOHER RETScreen [35]; CPLEX [37], MATLAB/MPM-GAMS [40]; MOO [42] Technical, economic and environmental design, simulation and performance analysis of microgrid system with storage TEE MILP [10]; Eco-SIM [31]; RETScreen [36]; AHP-MCDM [38] Social, technical and economic design, modelling and analysis of microgrid systems STE GA, PSO and TLBO [12]; DIgSILENT PowerFactory, HOMER/integrated analysis [21] Technical design, modelling and performance analysis of microgrid systems T GA and Python optimal control problem [29]; MOO and MCDM [30]; fuzzy logic control strategy [39]; MATLAB Simulink/agent-based model [41]; MATLAB and HOMER [43], IoT-based approach [44] The study introduces a practical simulation framework for sustainable energy planning, which is based on the social-technical-economic-environmental-policy (STEEP) model. This model is comprehensive than the other models such as TE, ST, STE, TEE or T planning dimensions.…”

Combined Operation of Wind-Pumped Hydro Storage Plant with a Concentrating Solar Power Plant for Insular Systems: A Case Study for the Island of Rhodes

“…As a result, the electricity production is often based on imported fossil fuels, affecting the security of the energy supply to the insular system and contributing to increased electricity costs [1,2] At the same time, islands incorporate ecosystems of high environmental value that necessarily impose constraints on the employed technologies for electricity production. Fortunately, the widespread potential of renewable energy sources (RES), primarily wind and solar, in combination with the above insular features, in most cases favors the installation of RES technologies for electricity production [3,4]. Consequently, there has been an increased interest in the promotion of RES in insular systems around Europe [5].…”