Optimization and Evaluation of Hybrid PV/WT/BM System in Different Initial Costs and LPSP Conditions

A modelling and optimization study was performed to manage energy demand of a faculty in Karabuk University campus area working with a hybrid energy production system by using genetic algorithm (GA). Hybrid system consists of photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines (WT) and biomass (BM) energy production units. Here BM is considered as a back-up generator. Objective function was constituted for minimizing total net present cost (TNPC) in optimization. In order to obtain more accurate results, measurements were performed with a weather station and data were read from an electricity meter. The system was also checked for reliability by the loss of power supply probability (LPSP). Changes in TNPC and localized cost of energy (LCOE) were interpreted by changing LPSP and economic parameters such as PV investment cost, WT investment cost, BM investment cost, and interest rates. As a result, it was seen that a hybrid system consisted of PV and BM associated with an effective flow algorithm benefited from a GA meets the energy demand of the faculty. Keywords—photovoltaic (PV)/wind turbines (WT)/ biomass (BM); hybrid system; optimization; sizing; cost-effective; reliability; genetic algorithm