The Modeling and Techno-Economics Performance Evaluation of a Microgrid Power Generation System for Energy Management on Hang Island of Krabi in Thailand

Abstract

This paper presents modeling and techno-economics performance evaluation of a microgrid power generation system for energy management on Hang Island, Krabi Province, Thailand, which is located in a remote area and far away from high-voltage transmission lines as well as lacks of electric system stability. HOMER Pro® (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources Pro®) was used for designing and simulating system, technical parameters and economics. The need of electricity consumption of people  in Hang Island, a total of 161 households, with the highest effectiveness load demand of 3,664 kW/day and the peak electrical load per day of 426 kW. The model was categorized into 2 modes: stand-alone and grid-connected hybrid renewable energy microgrid power generation systems. The optimum result ofthe stand-alone hybrid renewable energy microgrid power generation system consisted of a solar PV power with a 4,025 kWp, a 250-kW wind turbine generator, a 470-kW diesel generator with a 2,000-kWh battery energy storage system (BESS), and a 3,280-kW inverter. The net present cost (NPC) was 20.4 million US$/project with the lowest LCOE of 0.5267 US$/kWh while the CO₂ emission was 714.8 tonnesCO₂e/year that the emission factor (EF) for this power generation system is 0.5419 kgCO₂e/kWh. For the grid-connected hybrid renewable energy microgrid power generation system, the optimum system comprised of a 3,664 kWp solar PV, a 470-kW diesel generator, a 1,000 kWh BESS, and a 1,900-kW inverter. This alternative solution had the NPC of 2.73 million US$/project, a minimum LCOE of 0.1532 US$/kWh and CO₂ emission of 405.2 tonnesCO₂e/year that the emission factor (EF) for this power generation system is 0.3072 kgCO2e/kWh. The EF values from both systems are comparable to or lower than the national average EF in Thailand, which is 0.5082 kg CO₂e/kWh.