Unit sizing and performance evaluation of a renewable energy based microgrid in Iran

Renewable energy sources are widely known as an important option for microgrid design. This paper performs the optimal design and specify the dimensions, energy planning, and evaluate the performance of a microgrid to supply the electrical and thermal load using renewable energies. The hybrid system consists of PV, diesel generator and battery that are designed for off-grid applications. In this system, PV and diesel can be considered as the main sources, while batteries are used as storage and backup system. The desired system is evaluated in terms of economic, environmental and performance. In this study, the HOMER software is used to perform simulations and studies. The simulation results indicate that the proposed microgrid would be an appropriate solution to supply the electrical and thermal load for stand-alone applications.