article · Energy Reports
Combining hybrid renewable resources provides clean power while overcoming the limitations of single sources. An optimisation approach was used to design a fully reliable, completely renewable off-grid power system pairing photovoltaic solar generation with biomass, completely eliminating the need for energy storage devices. Using a multi-objective genetic algorithm, the design was optimised to deliver rural electrification at minimal energy cost. An optimal installation configuration was evaluated, comprising 87 kW of solar photovoltaics and two biomass generators of 29 kW and 125 kW. This configuration achieved a cost of energy of $0.02 per kilowatt-hour, a net present cost of $118,942, and a total system cost of $892,892. Running the two biomass units requires 704.81 tonnes of wheat straw annually. Overall, this operational setup avoids 729.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year while maintaining reliable power flow.
Remote communities often lack reliable electricity and cannot easily access power grids. Energy storage systems, such as batteries, can be expensive to install and maintain. By coupling solar generation directly with locally sourced crop residues like wheat straw, rural villages can secure dependable, low-cost electricity while reducing carbon dioxide emissions and making productive use of agricultural waste.
This research provides an optimisation model for energy planners, mini-grid developers, and rural electrification programmes operating in agricultural regions with abundant wheat straw. Because it is a design and optimisation study applied to a specific site configuration, it represents early-stage to applied engineering research. Practical implementation would require developing local biomass supply chains and physical mini-grid infrastructure.
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The novel concept of using hybrid renewable resources to provide clean energy helps to address the unique shortcomings of each renewable source. This study describes an innovative concept about the design of optimal grid PV/biomass 100 % renewable and fully reliable energy systems without considering energy storage devices. By leveraging community solar and biomass resources, the proposed system can power remote villages with a minimum cost of energy. Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) is employed to perform an optimal procedure. The PV-biomass deployment project's economic viability is assessed using financial metrics such as net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE). In order to install a hybrid system at the chosen site, the optimal configuration (PV 87 kW, biomass1 29 kW, and biomass2 125 kW) was examined. The NPC, COE, and total system cost, in this configuration, are $118,942, $0.02/kWh, and $892,892, respectively. The combined yearly consumption of the biomass1 and biomass2 generators is 704.81 tons of wheat straw. The total annual CO2 emissions of the PV, biomass1, and biomass2 generators in this system are avoided by 729.5 tons. The findings clearly demonstrate that the suggested approach can manage a reliable power flow with a suitable configuration. The solar PV and biomass system examined in this study will probably be a specialized solution in regions with abundant biomass resources; nevertheless, it offers a reliable starting point for the creation of larger-scale bioenergy value chains with the long-term objective of generating electricity from wheat straw biomass materials.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2024.04.057
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