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Analysis of hybrid solar/wind/diesel renewable energy system for off-grid rural electrification

Abstract:

Due to the rising energy demand and even the lack of coverage of the supplied energy to the total population from the interconnected electric system, the implementation of an electric generation system in which the renewables are involved plays an important role in our society. Furthermore, these energy systems help reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to the environment and decrease their impact on climate change. However, there are certain limitations that justify the use of a diesel generator in these systems, such as: i) to backup electricity during peak hours; ii) to support the systems in periods with low levels of solar radiation and wind speeds; and iii) to reduce the cost of electricity (COE) of the system. The aim of this paper is to propose the design of a Hybrid Electric System (HES) to supply the energy demand of a rural parish placed on the Ecuadorian coast. The feasibility analysis, constitutive elements of the system, and adjust variables are computed and presented using the computational tool HOMER. This study is carried out considering the meteorological data obtained from the selected place, and two different prices for the diesel, i.e., subsidized and non-subsidized by the state, are considered. Additionally, technical and economic details of the proposed HES are presented.