Modeling and design of hybrid energy system considering degradation and emission

Present work1 presents the modeling and design of off-grid hybrid renewable energy system considering the degradation of the system components and equivalent reduction of emission from conventional systems. The test system considers the solar PV, wind, fuel cell, electrolyzer along with the micro-hydro plant. Initially the work concentrate on the optimal sizing determination of the system based on the minimum life cycle cost using a well-established optimization technique called particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique. In later stage, the optimal sizing of the system is presented considering the performance degradation of each component of the system over the lifetime of components. Power fed to or supplied by each component is reviewed in the system in details for the simulated time of 24 hours of a typical day of the year. Also the emissions reduction by using the hybrid renewable energy system in replacement of conventional system for both the cases is discussed. Increased cost of the system considering the degradation may be considered to be a real and true reflection of the system cost.