An improved genetic algorithm-based optimal sizing of solar photovoltaic/wind turbine generator/diesel generator/battery connected hybrid energy systems for standalone applications

Abstract

This paper proposes an improved GA-based new approach for the optimal design of hybrid energy systems comprises of solar PV, wind, diesel generator and battery connected systems for supplying the electrical power. The proposed system uses the meteorological data of wind speed, wind velocities and solar radiations, which were collected from NASA website. Optimisation of hybrid energy system includes minimisation of total cost, net present cost, loss of power system probability, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, cost of energy, annualised system cost to make the system more economically for the domestic house hold applications. The optimisation of results can be achieved by using improved Genetic Algorithm (GA), which uses the variables such as wind turbine capacity, PV array ratings, number of battery banks, diesel generator rated power, system initialisation cost and operation and maintenance cost were considered as the input chromosomes for the algorithm. A suitable improved GA programme has been formulated using MATLAB toolbox with the objective function of minimising the total/net present cost of the proposed hybrid energy system for electrifying the rural areas in standalone applications.

KEYWORDS:

• Hybrid energy systems
• loss of power supply probability
• renewable energy fraction
• annualised system cost
• net present cost
• cost of energy Integrated renewable energy systems

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to pay gratitude to Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode for supporting with lab and library facilities. In addition, the authors are also grateful to National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for providing legacy version of HOMER software and its free technical support. The authors would like to express their appreciation to The Principal, The Correspondent and all the faculty members of Kongu Engineering College. Lastly, the authors wish to express their sincere thanks to those colleagues, who have either directly or indirectly contributed to the completion of this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.