Tagungsband zur Europäischen Windenergiekonferenz 2000, Kassel

COST OPTIMISATION OF WIND-PV-DIESEL HYBRID SYSTEMS

Michael Müller, Dirk Uwe Sauer, Hans-Georg Puls, Georg Bopp,

Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE,
Oltmannsstr.5, D-79100 Freiburg, Germany,
Fax. ++49 761 4588 217, phone ++49 761 4588 344, email: mimue@ise.fhg.de

ABSTRACT: Wind-PV-Diesel Hybrid Systems are used for energy supply in remote areas. Depending on the
geographical and meteorological situation as well as on the load profile specific hybrid energy system designs
are the best and most cost efficient solution.
This article presents a simulation tool TALCO (Technical and least cost Optimisation) which is able to calculate
the most cost efficient type of hybrid systems under given circumstances as well as an optimisation of
different parameters. Here it is used to optimise hybrid systems by using Wind Power as well as PV.
One result of this optimisation is that wind power can play an important role in remote area power supplies
reducing the life time costs already in locations which have yearly mean values of the wind velocity of about
1,5 m/s.
Keywords: Optimisation - 1; Stand Alone Systems - 2; Models (Physical) - 3

1. INTRODUCTION 2. METHODOLOGY OF THE SIMULATION

Wind-PV-Diesel-hybrid systems are important power 2.1 Models of the Simulation

supplies for the electrification of rural communities.
Different power sources like wind turbines, Photovoltaic
arrays and a motor generator produce electricity and
cover the load demand. Part of the energy is stored in a
battery bank which allows a 24 hour power supply
without continuos generator operation. Typically these
systems are used in regions where the costs for a grid
connection are too high due to the remote necessaries.
The advantage of these systems is that it is possible
to design them very flexible and adjust them to the
concrete demands. On the other hand they represent a
complex system thus requiring some effort in planning
and design.
Therefore TALCO (Technical And Least Cost
Optimisation) is presented here as a new optimisation
tool made to develop technical system designs for
autonomous energy supply systems on the basis of a
lifetime least cost calculation. TALCO is based on
detailed technical models for all components used in
autonomous energy supply systems. The models
describe the electrical characteristics and the
components ageing under the different operating
conditions. Further on all economic parameters
(investments, interest rates, maintenance, exchange of
components, fuel) of the components are taken into
account. Coupled with a powerful optimisation
algorithm the calculation of the optimum system design
is possible. The result are minimum lifetime costs for a
given energy demand at a specific location and under
given boundary conditions.
Wind turbines can play an important role in such
systems to reduce the costs because in suited areas they
can easily cover a remarkable fraction of the load
demand with quite low investment and maintenance
costs.
All components are represented by technical
simulation models, which give the electrical input and
output data according to the state of the system.
Further on a lifetime model for the battery [1],[4] is
used to calculate the time until the battery needs to be
exchanged.
To optimise the system and to define the operating
strategy a multidimensional optimisation is done. We
use an evolutionary algorithm for the optimisation
process [3],[4],[5] which gives a good result close to the
absolute minimum. (Nobody can calculate the absolute
minimum because of the high complexity of the
problem and the uncertainty in models and input data).
More than 30 parameters represent the technical
parameters of the system (e.g. size of components,
selection of components between different
competitors, orientation of the PV generator) and the
operation strategy (e.g. maximum depth of discharge of
the battery, end of charge voltage, equalisation
charging). Because of the high computing effort (each
variation of parameters needs a 20 years lifetime
simulation of the complete system and the number of
parameters is quite high), the simulation and
optimisation tool TALCO is implemented on the
institute network with more than 50 workstations.
2.2 Calculation of lifetime costs
The lifetime costs are calculated according to
standard economic procedures. It results in the annuity
costs expressed in absolute numbers and as costs per
kWh. A crucial boundary condition is the demanded
availability of the system. For the calculations shown in
this paper an availability of 100% is requested. The
optimisation process is completely open to do an
optimum selection among the power generators: PV,
wind, diesel generator, thermoelectric generator or fuel
cell. For example if PV does not give a cost effective
solution, no PV generator will be selected by TALCO for
the optimum system design.
 2.3 Boundary conditions of the Optimisation
For different boundary conditions specific system
optimisations are needed, because of mainly non-linear
and complex interactions between the different
parameters.
Just calculating the costs for a given system
configuration for different effective interest rates as
done by almost all commercial available simulation
tools, does not allow to take all these interactions into
consideration. Only TALCO allows to explore the
complete potential for cost reductions.
3. REFERENCE SYSTEM
To show the critical dependence of the system
design on each single parameter a reference system was
defined. Any variation of a single parameter leads to a
partly totally different system design.
In this case the reference system is a medium sized
hybrid system with a load profile of a mountain lodge
with restaurant and hotel (Rotwandhaus [6],[7]) which
has an energy consumption of 11 000 kWh/year. The
system location is Freiburg / Germany defining the solar
irradiation data and the wind velocity data. Fuel costs of
0,306 Euro/l are assumed for a tax-free diesel fuel in
Germany. Personal costs are calculated from typical
costs for craftsman in Germany (approx. 360 Euro/day).
The size of the motor generator for the reference
systems is given by the sum of the nominal inverter
power and the nominal power of the battery charger.
This configuration allows to charge the battery and to
supply the loads at the same time. In this configuration
it is assumed, that the system is supplied directly by the
motor generator whenever it is in operation.
As an example a variation of the effective interest
rate shall be presented here to show the influence of a
single parameter on the system design. The effective
interest rate of 6% corresponds to typical rates for
small consumer credits. An effective interest rate of 2%
corresponds approximately to the actual interest rate on
fixed-interest securities (see Figure 1).
VARIATION OF INTEREST RATES
relative size of components
costs [Euro / kWh]
PV
battery
b. charger
effective
interest rate solar fraction
2%
6%
0 20 40 60 80
percent
Figure 1: Reference system under different interest
rates.
It is a clear outcome of this variation that any
optimisation of a hybrid system has to be done with
precise and detailed location data and can not be done
in general because of the complex interactions between
the different components and the variations of these
interactions caused by any variation of a single system
parameter.
An increase of the effective interest rate, for
example, leads to reduced initial investment costs and
therefore to a smaller PV generator. The result is a
lower solar fraction during operation. As a consequence
the number of operation hours of the motor generator
increases and therefore fuel and maintenance costs.
Smaller solar fractions allow smaller batteries, smaller
batteries allow for smaller battery chargers. Other
operating strategies are required. Differing battery and
motor generator lifetimes depending on the operation
conditions are taken into account as well.
4. INFLUENCE OF THE WIND VELOCITY
4.1 Introduction
As another example the very important influence of
the available wind velocity to the system design will be
presented here.
There is a reference system assumed with concrete
boundary conditions and all central parameters are
optimised by TALCO. Overall there were 24 parameters
optimised but for more clearness only few of them will
be presented here.
4.2 System design
The location is again Freiburg / Germany defining
the solar irradiation data. The battery and the
generators are coupled with a DC bus and the size of
the diesel generator is designed in a way which allows
the diesel to cover the maximal load demand if e.g. the
inverter is out of order. A wind-PV-diesel hybrid system
to cover an annual energy consumption of 4000 kWh
was the optimisation result.
The most important variation parameter here is the
wind velocity. Therefore wind velocity time series are
used which are scaled linearly to realise flexible annual
mean values of the wind velocity from 0 m/s up to 6
m/s. This model is not really precise but it gives a good
direction of what wind power is able to contribute to
the energy supply of a wind-PV-diesel hybrid system.
4.3 Boundary conditions
1,8
The costs of the components are assumed as
1,6
1,4
1,2
follows. For the Photovoltaic generator 5900.- € /kWp,
1 for the mast of the wind turbine 4600.- € and for the
wind generator itself a power depended function
0,8
0,6
0,4
0,2
(where P is the power of the wind generator in W):
( )
0
(− 7⋅10 )
effective
2% 6% −5 1
⋅P
price[ Euro ] = P ⋅ 0,8 Euro + 3 Euro ⋅e
interest rate
W
fuel W W
maintenance and repair
investment and capital costs
The costs for the diesel generator are assumed with
500.- € / kVA and the battery costs are 250.- € / kWh.
For planning and installation for each component
15% of the initial costs. For annual maintenance
costs for one year related to the initial costs: Wind
generator 3%, Battery 2% and other components 2%.
For the maintenance of the diesel generator one man
day with 360.- € / day every 200 operating hours, but
at least one time a year.
 The lifetime of the components are for the wind battery is the number of days for which the battery is
generator 12 years, the Photovoltaic array 20 years and able to cover the average load demand.
the electronic components 12 years. For the diesel At very low wind speeds PV has to cover the main
generator maximal 40 years or 10 000 operating hours demand and the size of battery (and with this the size
depending on the operation conditions. For the battery of most other components) is nearly constant. On the
a variable lifetime also depends on the control other hand at high wind speeds most energy come
management of the system. from the wind turbine and the component sizes
The optimisation has a boundary condition that become more and more constant with an increasing
allows the control management a maximum part of wind speed. This effect facilitates the system design at
power supply by the diesel generator of 20%. low and high wind speeds a lot.
In contrast to that there is a window of wind speeds
4.4 Results from about 1,5 m/s to 4,5 m/s. Unfortunately this is the
The goal of the optimisation is the minimisation of case in a huge amount of rural communities needing
the lifetime costs for a given energy consumption off-grid power supply. In this range of average annual
profile. Main results of this variation simulation are wind speed the size of the components shows a
shown in Figure 2. sensitive dependence of the average wind speed. There
it is very important to do a system design in such a
location very carefully and with really precise measured
boundary conditions because only small mistakes will
result in a suboptimal system design and this is higher
INFLUENCE OF THE WIND VELOCITY lifetime costs than necessary!
If the system can use complementary effects between
100
diesel generator 2.5 the wind turbine and the Photovoltaic array the battery
can be sized significant smaller.
generated energy [%]

(annuity) [Euro/kWh]

80
electricity costs

ele
The smaller the size of the battery is the more full
proportion of

ctr 2.0
60 icit
yc
ost
s cycles were realised till the end of the lifetime is
40
1.5 reached. Thus the lifetime of battery decreases
20 photovoltaics
substantially. But nevertheless the optimisation goal is
Zyklenlebensdauer
Lebensdauer
Batteriegröße
80%
wind energy
1.0 not a long battery lifetime but the minimum of the
0
750 battery lifetime [a]
overall lifetime costs. So under certain circumstances
10 battery- 3.5
e.g. a big wind power contribution it can be reasonable
cycle lifetime [cycles]

battery size [days]

size
lifetime [years]

700
9
3.0 regarding the costs to change a small battery more
650
cycle-
2.5 often than having a big battery with longer lifetime.
8
600 lifetime 2.0
7
1.5
550
5. ELECTRIFICATION FOR PUNTA EUGENIA
6 1.0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
5.1 Punta Eugenia
average annual wind speed [m/s]
To get in touch with the importance of wind power
in wind-PV-diesel hybrid systems a concrete location
Figure 2: Some important system parameters for the
example simulation will be presented here. For this
reference system in dependence of different annual
Punta Eugenia, a small village (far away from the
mean values of the wind velocity.
electricity grid) in Baja California, Mexico is selected
here. It has about 200 inhabitants in 50 families. The
village is located at the coast of the pacific ocean. The
First of all the simulation shows that wind power
annual mean value of the wind speed is 5,5 m/s. This
plays a significant role already if the average annual
means there are good conditions for using wind power.
wind velocity is about 1,5 m/s and more. At 2,5 m/s
Also the solar irradiation is quite high with about 2200
already approximately 40% of the whole energy is
kWh/(m² year).
converted by the wind generator as well as 40% come
The realised system is at the moment a diesel stand
from the Photovoltaic array. It is also easy to see that
alone power supply with two generators [2], each 79
for an average annual wind speed above 3,5 m/s a
kVA. However they provide power supply for only 8
wind-battery-diesel system is the most cheapest
hours a day.
solution. This means that small wind generators will be
used in most hybrid systems if the most efficient design
5.2 Simulation
is realised. Therefore there is a need of small wind
First of all the actual system was re-simulated with
turbines as the market for hybrid systems for rural
the available boundary conditions and then a system
power supply is increasing because of the efforts of a
optimisation was done. The results of the optimisation
lot of governments and electricity supplying companies
are shown in Figure 3. For the given load profile a
to electrify rural regions.
single diesel generator with 75 kVA would have to run
In the lower part of Figure 2 some characteristic
24 hours a day.
parameters of the battery are shown. The unit of the
 SIZE OF COMPNENTS Table 1 shows the costs in Euro per kWh to give an
idea of the relation to the lifetime costs for Punta
Eugenia.
Further on it is surprising that even at these
700 650 irradiation conditions for the use of Photovoltaics this
can not reduce the costs. Main reasons are the high
size [kW] resp. [kWh]

600
500 price of PV and the high energy demand of Punta
400 Eugenia.
200
300
200 50 PRICE PER kWh IN PUNTA EUGENIA
Table I: Price for electricity in Euro / kWh
25 75 182
100 76 35
Battery
0 Diesel ______________________________________________
WDB Wind
DB
Diesel type of INTEREST RATE 5% 9% 11,5 %
type of hybrid WB ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
component
Wind-diesel-battery 0,34 0,39 0,43
Figure 3: The size of the most important components Wind-battery 0,45 0,53 0,58
for the system optimisation of Punta Eugenia. Wind
Diesel-battery 0,50 0,53 0,56
power is given in [kW], diesel generator in [kVA], and
the battery size in [kWh]. (WDB = wind-diesel-battery, Diesel stand alone 0,56 0,59 0,61
DB = diesel-battery, WB = wind-battery)

In comparison with the small reference system (see

section 3) with prices over 1 € / kWh it can be seen that
the relative costs decrease with increasing load
By adding a battery with 50 kWh a diesel with 35kVA is demands. For bigger hybrid systems the price per kWh
the optimum solution. decreases.
If an optimal wind generator is used the size of the
diesel generator can be reduced to 25 kVA. If there is
no diesel used, the battery (650 kWh) and the wind 6. CONCLUSIONS
power (182 kW) must be very big to bridge the time
gaps of no wind. A minimisation of the overall lifetime costs for a
The cost calculations of these types of hybrid given energy supply problem needs an optimisation
systems can be seen in Figure 4. The Simulation was program, that allows to optimise the system design and
done for different effective interest rates to show that the operation strategy of the system simultaneously for
this is one of the most sensitive parameter. the given boundary conditions. This includes the
specific conditions at the selected site, costs for
LIFETIME COSTS IN MIO EURO components and capital and the maintenance costs.
TALCO gives the opportunity to optimise the systems
with respect to all parameters and boundary conditions.
Wind-PV-Diesel hybrid systems are the most cost
effective solutions for energy supplies from 1500
1.4
kWh/year to 150 000 kWh/year in rural communities.
1.2
Regarding the profitability of wind generators in
1
comparison between a grid-connected application with
costs
0.8 a rural stand alone wind-PV-diesel hybrid system it is a
0.6 clear outcome of these investigations that wind power
0.4 is already profitable in off-grid systems at much lower
0.2 11.5% annual mean values of the wind velocity than in grid-
0 9% connected system. Reasons therefore are higher
WDB
DB
5% interests electricity costs in off-grid systems in general and the
Diesel
type of Hybrid
WB fact that often small wind turbines are needed which
run at lower wind velocities than powerful turbines
Figure 4: Lifetime costs of hybrid systems for Punta which are needed in grid-connection.
Eugenia in Mio Euro. (WDB = wind-diesel-battery, DB = Therefore there is a potential for small wind
diesel-battery, WB = wind-battery) turbines up to 150 kW to take a wide position in the
market of hybrid systems for rural electrification. This
situation is enforced by the fact that about 1/3 of the
These calculations show that the combination of world population actually does not have any electricity
wind and diesel with a battery is the cheapest solution and wind-PV-diesel hybrid systems are an efficient way
because of complementary effects of the different to electrify a huge amount of these rural regions.
electricity generators. The diesel generator is optimal
adjusted to the needs of the hybrid system at a size of
25 kVA.
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