Energy performance analysis for a photovoltaic, diesel, battery hybrid power supply system

Abstract

This paper looks at an energy performance analysis for a photovoltaic, diesel, and battery hybrid power supply system. The procedure starts by the identification of the hourly load requirements for a typical target consumer and the concept of load matrix was used to calculate an hourly load demand. Two competing energy dispatch strategies were considered. The first strategy is to switch the diesel generator only at night times or when the solar radiation is less than 80W/m2, herein referred to as the Night Strategy. The second one is a load following strategy where the diesel generator set is switched on if the load is greater than 80% of the average daily load and the photovoltaic (PV) hourly output is lower than the hourly load, herein called the Load Following Strategy. A model that could simulate various operating conditions and produce corresponding energy flows was used. The model makes an hourly audit of energy flows and after inputting parameters like solar radiation data, temperature data, average day of the month, tilt angle, normalized PV area and storage capacity among other inputs, can output solar fraction; diesel fraction; load satisfied; and battery life among other outputs