Techno-economic feasibility and size optimisation of an off-grid hybrid system for supplying electricity and thermal loads

In this article, cost-effective hybrid solutions while meeting the electric and thermal loads in five different climate zones in Australia are investigated. This study considers the excess electricity (EE, via thermal load controller-TLC) utilisation for the first time combined with recovered waste heat to satisfy the thermal load demand while the system is optimised using HOMER software. The micro gas turbine (MGT), diesel generator (DG), and fuel cell (FC), used as supplemental prime movers, along with the PV/ Wind/Li-ion, are compared. This article also compares the hybrid energy system (HES) with power only and using EE and recovered waste heat individually and a combination of both to satisfy the thermal demand. Results indicate that the PV/Wind/MGT/Li-ion-based hybrid options have a lower Cost of Energy (COE, $/kWh) in all areas with the lowest in Tasmania (0.140$/kWh). Additionally, Queensland has higher COE (0.178$/kWh) for the same hybrid options because of the lower solar irradiation and wind velocity. The FC-based hybrid options have higher COE and net present cost (NPC) compared to the DGand MGT based options. Utilising both EE and recovered waste heat for supplying thermal demand could lead to lower the components capacity thus lowering the NPC and reducing the environmental emissions. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates cost-effective hybrid solutions in different climate zones in Australia, with PV/Wind/MGT/Li-ion based options proving to have the lowest Cost of Energy. Queensland has higher COE due to lower solar irradiation and wind velocity. Utilising both excess electricity and recovered waste heat for thermal demand can reduce system costs and environmental emissions.