Techno-Economic and Power System Optimization of a Renewable Rich Islanded Microgrid Considering Different Dispatch Strategies

In this work, the evaluation of the design and optimization of proposed offgrid hybrid microgrid systems for different load dispatch strategies is presented by assessing the component sizes, system responses and different cost analyses of the proposed system. This study optimizes the sizing of the Barishal and Chattogram (two popular divisions in Bangladesh) hybrid microgrid systems consisting of wind turbine, storage unit, solar PV, diesel generator and a load profile of 27.31 kW for five dispatch techniques: (i) generator order, (ii) cycle charging, (iii) load following, (iv) HOMER predictive dispatch and (v) combined dispatch strategy. The considered microgrids are optimized for the least CO
₂
gas emission, Net Present Cost, and Levelized Cost of Energy. The two microgrids are analyzed for the five dispatch techniques using HOMER software, and subsequently, the power system performance and feasibility study of the microgrids are performed in MATLAB Simulink. The results in this research provide a guideline to estimate different component sizes and probable costing for the optimal operation of the proposed microgrids under various load dispatch conditions. The simulation results suggest that `Load Following' is the best dispatch strategy for the proposed microgrids having a stable power system response with the lowest net present cost, levelized cost of energy, operating cost, and CO
₂
emission rate. Additionally, the combined dispatch strategy is determined to be the worst dispatch technique for the proposed off-grid hybrid microgrid design having the maximum levelized cost of energy, net present cost, operating cost and CO
₂
emission.