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Feasibility Study for Off-Grid Hybrid Power Systems Considering an Energy Efficiency Initiative for an Island in Ecuador

Author

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  • Ruben Hidalgo-Leon

    (Centro de Energías Renovables y Alternativas, CERA-ESPOL, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

  • Fernando Amoroso

    (Centro de Energías Renovables y Alternativas, CERA-ESPOL, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

  • Javier Urquizo

    (Electric and Computer Engineering Department, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA)

  • Viviana Villavicencio

    (Electric and Computer Engineering Department, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA)

  • Miguel Torres

    (Centro de Energías Renovables y Alternativas, CERA-ESPOL, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador
    Facultad de Ingeniería en Electricidad y Computación, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

  • Pritpal Singh

    (Electric and Computer Engineering Department, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA)

  • Guillermo Soriano

    (Centro de Energías Renovables y Alternativas, CERA-ESPOL, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

Abstract

This paper shows the technical–economic, operational and environmental feasibility of four off-grid hybrid power systems to supply energy to the Cerrito de los Morreños community in Ecuador. These configurations consist of combinations of diesel generators, solar photovoltaic systems, and battery energy storage systems. Each configuration was simulated and the results were analyzed for two different load conditions: (1) the existing load profile and (2) a reduced load profile by incorporating an energy efficiency initiative. Homer Pro software was used to perform the simulations. The planning horizon for the simulations was selected to be 15 years. The results showed the diesel/photovoltaic/battery configuration with energy efficiency showed the best performance, which was achieved with a photovoltaic system of 160 kWp, the existing generator of 165 kW and a storage system of 283 kWh. The stand-alone diesel generator and photovoltaic/diesel configurations showed higher Net Present Costs, instability problems and higher CO 2 emissions. Additionally, the configurations without energy efficiency had increases of between 15% and 40% higher costs compared to their respective energy-efficient scenarios. The information in this work could be useful for some organizations in Ecuador who are interested in investing in rural electrification projects with renewable energy to reduce and/or compensate their CO 2 emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruben Hidalgo-Leon & Fernando Amoroso & Javier Urquizo & Viviana Villavicencio & Miguel Torres & Pritpal Singh & Guillermo Soriano, 2022. "Feasibility Study for Off-Grid Hybrid Power Systems Considering an Energy Efficiency Initiative for an Island in Ecuador," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-25, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1776-:d:760567
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Maciej Żołądek & Alexandros Kafetzis & Rafał Figaj & Kyriakos Panopoulos, 2022. "Energy-Economic Assessment of Islanded Microgrid with Wind Turbine, Photovoltaic Field, Wood Gasifier, Battery, and Hydrogen Energy Storage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Samrat Chakraborty & Debottam Mukherjee & Pabitra Kumar Guchhait & Somudeep Bhattacharjee & Almoataz Youssef Abdelaziz & Adel El-Shahat, 2023. "Optimum Design of a Renewable-Based Integrated Energy System in Autonomous Mode for a Remote Hilly Location in Northeastern India," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-30, February.
    4. Fernando Amoroso & Rubén Hidalgo-León & Kevin Muñoz & Javier Urquizo & Pritpal Singh & Guillermo Soriano, 2023. "Techno-Economic Assessment of PV Power Systems to Power a Drinking Water Treatment Plant for an On-Grid Small Rural Community," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Paweł Dworak & Andrzej Mrozik & Agata Korzelecka-Orkisz & Adam Tański & Krzysztof Formicki, 2023. "Energy Self-Sufficiency of a Salmonids Breeding Facility in the Recirculating Aquaculture System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-22, March.

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