Performance analysis of a PV/HKT/WT/DG hybrid autonomous grid

This paper presents the performance of a renewable autonomous hybrid grid composed of photovoltaic system, wind turbines, hydrokinetic turbines, diesel generator and energy storage systems. Three energy dispatch control and several storage systems have been studied. Technical, environmental and economic indicators have been used to determine the impact on the hybrid autonomous grid and its sizing optimization. However, this study goes further by conducting a sensitivity analysis such as capital cost, state of charge and time step, to choose the best system configuration. The results show that, when using the energy storage system composed of pumped hydro, under the load following energy dispatch control, the net present cost and cost of energy are lower with respect to others storage technologies proposed. However, the storage system with the lowest CO₂ emissions is lead acid battery using the combined cycle energy dispatch control. In addition, the wind turbines have presented the greatest sensibility in the net present cost with respect to the capital cost variation and pumped hydro-storage present sensitivity response with respect to state of charge. All configurations have different several behaviors, therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of each one are analyzed.