Evaluation of the Effect of Weather Conditions on Optimal Sizing of an Isolated Microgrid

The need for low carbon electricity production due to global warming has made the usage of renewable energy resources essential. As renewable energy sources become more accessible due to technological advances, the microgrid system has been popular all over the world. Especially, the isolated microgrid with an energy storage system that works without the grid connection is a well-known solution in a rural area that lacks electrical infrastructure. This study aims to evaluate the effect of weather conditions on the optimal sizing of an isolated microgrid by a proposed framework and decide the optimal sizing of the system. A cost optimization method is used for problem formulation. The objective function is defined as life cycle cost. The optimization problem is solved for a one-year period to understand the effect of weather conditions and take into account the seasonality of renewable resources. For the design simulation, the system is formed of wind, photovoltaic, and battery storage systems. The system is tested using monthly data.