Design of a hybrid AC/DC microgrid using HOMER Pro : case study on an islanded residential application

Oulis Rousis, Anastasios and Tzelepis, Dimitrios and Konstantelos, Ioannis and Booth, Campbell and Strbac, Goran (2018) Design of a hybrid AC/DC microgrid using HOMER Pro : case study on an islanded residential application. Inventions, 3 (3). ISSN 2411-5134 (https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions3030055)

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Abstract

This paper is concerned with the design of an autonomous hybrid alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) microgrid for a community system, located on an island without the possibility of grid connection. It is comprised of photovoltaic (PV) arrays and a diesel generator, AC loads, and battery energy storage devices for ensuring uninterruptible power supply during prolonged periods of low sunshine. A multi-objective, non-derivative optimisation is considered in this residential application; the primary objective is the system cost minimisation, while it is also required that no load shedding is allowed. Additionally, the CO2 emissions are calculated to demonstrate the environmental benefit the proposed system offers. The commercial software, HOMER Pro, is utilised to identify the least-cost design among hundreds of options and simultaneously satisfy the secondary objective. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to evaluate design robustness against the uncertainty pertaining to fuel prices and PV generation. Finally, an assessment of the capabilities of the utilised optimisation platform is conducted, and a theoretical discussion sheds some light on the proposal for an enhanced design tool addressing the identified issues.

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