Optimal configuration of stand-alone hybrid microgrid considering cost, reliability and environmental factors

Due to the ever rising energy demand accompanied by the unsustainable nature of fossil fuels a prototype shift has evolved from fossil fuelled units to clean energy resources. Microgrids which are amalgamation of clean energy resources with non renewable conventional units are becoming popular nowadays. From operational point of view, optimal planning of microgrid is necessary. Reasonably selecting the number of generating sources used in microgrid is the crucial factor to assure that the microgrid can function reliably and economically. Cost, reliability and environmental factors are the three most important factors which should be taken into account while designing microgrids. The optimization is aimed at minimization of cost, loss of load probability (LOLP) and emission. Teaching learning based optimization (TLBO) technique is utilized for analysis.