Evaluating the sensitivity of grid integration level for a multi energy hubs

Renewable energy integration into multi energy grids (MEG) is gradually getting popular due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuel resources and the global concern on GHG emissions through fossil fuel based energy conversion technologies. However, seasonal changes in solar and wind energy potentials make it challenging to increase the renewable energy capacity especially for urban applications where demand for energy services show a complex variation. According to recent literature, connecting multi energy hubs (MEHs) to a MEG can be a promising method to address the aforementioned challenge. However, a quantitative analysis of the improvement of system autonomy and renewable energy integration through multi energy hubs is missing. In this work, Homer microgrid design tool is used to analyze the sensitivity of the grid integration level to the renewable energy integration process of a multi energy hub. Heating and electricity demand of the MEH and the energy flow through Solar PV panels, wind turbines, boiler and battery bank are evaluated on hourly basis. Homer, microgrid simulation tool is used to evaluate the sensitivity of electricity cost to renewable energy capacity and energy storage.

Electrical hubs: An effective way to integrate non-dispatchable renewable energy sources with minimum impact to the grid

Dasaraden Mauree, Vahid Moussavi Nik, Amarasinghage Tharindu Dasun Perera, Jean-Louis Scartezzini

A paradigm change in energy system design tools, energy market, and energy policy is required to attain the target levels in renewable energy integration and in minimizing pollutant emissions in power generation. Integrating non-dispatchable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy is vital in this context. Distributed generation has been identified as a promising method to integrate Solar PV (SPV) and wind energy into grid in recent literature. Distributed generation using grid-tied electrical hubs, which consist of Internal Combustion Generator (ICG), non-dispatchable energy sources (i.e., wind turbines and SPV panels) and energy storage for providing the electricity demand in Sri Lanka is considered in this study. A novel dispatch strategy is introduced to address the limitations in the existing methods in optimizing grid-integrated electrical hubs considering real time pricing of the electricity grid and curtailments in grid integration. Multi-objective optimization is conducted for the system design considering grid integration level and Levelized Energy Cost (LEC) as objective functions to evaluate the potential of electrical hubs to integrate SPV and wind energy. The sensitivity of grid curtailments, energy market, price of wind turbines and SPV panels on Pareto front is evaluated subsequently. Results from the Pareto analysis demonstrate the potential of electrical hubs to cover more than 60% of the annual electricity demand from SPV and wind energy considering stringent grid curtailments. Such a share from SPV and wind energy is quite significant when compared to direct grid integration of non-dispatchable renewable energy technologies.

Elsevier Sci Ltd2017

Optimum dispatch of a multi-storage and multi-energy hub with demand response and restricted grid interactions

Timothée Chatelain, Dasaraden Mauree, Amarasinghage Tharindu Dasun Perera, Jean-Louis Scartezzini

Integrated energy systems such as multi energy hubs which combines different energy conversion technologies and storage is recently getting popular. These systems possess the potential to integrate distributed renewable energy sources with a minimum impact to the grid. Hence, a number of recent studies have focused on optimizing the operation of energy hubs with simple energy systems. This study focuses on optimizing the dispatch of a multi-energy hub model which includes solar PV (SPV) panels, wind turbines, boiler, Internal Combustion Generator (ICG), Cogeneration plant (CHP), energy storage (heat and electricity). The energy hub is considered to maintain limited interactions with the grid. Interactions with e-mobility is considered as a flexible demand. A detailed energy hub model is developed considering energy interactions among all the aforementioned components. Dispatch strategy is optimized using evolutionary algorithm. Results obtained from the evolutionary algorithm is compared with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. A detailed analysis is conducted in order to assess the energy interactions within the system. Sensitivity of system components such as storage size, renewable energy capacity etc., grid interactions, and time horizon considered for optimization is subsequently assessed and reported concisely. Results obtained clearly shows choice of dispatch strategy is considerably volatile which makes the operation of the energy hub challenging. This can be mitigated up to a certain level by increasing the capacity of battery bank.

2017

A multi criterion analysis for renewable energy integration process of a standalone hybrid energy system with internal combustion generator

Amarasinghage Tharindu Dasun Perera

Integrating renewable energy into standalone Internal Combustion Generator (ICG) systems is an economical and eco-friendly option. However, previous studies demonstrate the difficulties in replacing the ICGs completely by using Solar PV (SPV) and wind energy with a dispatchable energy storage. This makes it interesting to analyze the limitations in integrating the SPV and wind energy into Hybrid Energy System. A multi criterion analysis is presented in this study, considering Levelized Energy Cost, Loss of Load Probability, and Fuel Consumption varying the scale of the ICG capacity to attain aforementioned objective. Changes in the system design with the integration of the SPV and wind energy were analyzed using Pareto multi-objective optimization considering Renewable Energy Capacity as an objective function. Sensitivity of the ICG capacity on optimum Renewable Energy Technology, role of the ICG in improving system reliability, etc., were subsequently analyzed. The results depict that the ICG capacity notably influence to the balance between wind and SPV capacity. An increase in the ICG capacity does increase the contribution from dispatchable energy source in most of the scenarios. Furthermore, it facilitates to amalgamate highly fluctuating renewable energy sources at a relatively low cost. This makes it inevitable to replace ICG with non-dispatchable renewable energy sources and energy storage.

Amer Inst Physics2015