Determination of the Optimal Configuration of Solar PV Power Plants and Wind Farms in the United Energy System of Myanmar

The integration of wind farms (WF) and photovoltaic solar power plants (SPP) into the United Energy System (UES), as outlined in the Master Plan for Myanmar's energy system development, improves the reliability of power generation by mitigating daily and seasonal fluctuations in electricity production. This study focuses on optimizing energy complexes (ECs) in the Mandalay region to address energy deficits and enhance sustainability. By utilizing meteorological data and performance metrics of renewable energy technologies, the research evaluates 27 EC configurations based on six optimization criteria: minimizing energy deficits, reducing surpluses, improving capacity utilization efficiency, ensuring output stability, and lowering the levelized cost of energy (LCOE The methodology developed by the authors identifies the optimal EC configuration, leveraging the asynchronous nature of wind and solar resource inflow across different sites. The analysis shows that the optimal EC configuration varies depending on the prioritized criterion. Configurations including all wind and solar power plants deliver the best results for minimizing energy deficits and maximizing output stability. In contrast, smaller-scale configurations demonstrate better economic performance due to their lower LCOE values. The integration of renewable energy reduces reliance on external sources, such as hydroelectric power, while generating a surplus of up to 40% to meet future energy demands. The practical application of this methodology is illustrated in the Mandalay region within Myanmar's UES, demonstrating a well-balanced approach to matching regional energy consumption and generation.