A green university library based on hybrid PV/wind/battery system

Abstract

This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) to supply the electrical load requirements of the Central Library of Kırklareli University located in Kavaklı Campus, Kırklareli, Turkey. The standalone and grid connected HRES (Grid/PV/battery, wind/battery and PV/wind/battery etc.) considered in the analysis were comprised of different combinations of PV modules and wind turbines supplemented with battery storage. Meanwhile, wind and solar energy potential in Kırklareli is fairly appropriate for supplying energy requirements of some places with no high electricity load like libraries. In this study, the HOMER software is used as the assessment tool to determine the optimal configuration of HRES taking total net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (CoE) into consideration. As a result, it is determined that the optimal system configuration of standalone hybrid system with the lowest total NPC consists of 40kW PV array, 10kW Wind turbine, 20kW power converter and 72 batteries and also that total NPC and CoE of the optimal configuration are estimated to be $228,330, $0.334/kWh, respectively. Similarly, it is determined that the optimal system configuration of grid connected hybrid system with the lowest total NPC consists of 30kW Wind turbine, 100kW Grid and also that total NPC and CoE of the optimal configuration are estimated to be $137,979, $0.185/kWh, respectively. When these configurations are compared considering CoE and total NPC it is clearly shown that Grid connected hybrid systems is more economical than standalone hybrid system. But some environmental effects (CO2, CO NOx and carbon tax etc.) are taken into consideration the standalone hybrid system must be preferred.