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Search for optimum renewable mix for Australian off-grid power generation

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  • Balaji, Vishak
  • Gurgenci, Hal

Abstract

The electrification of remote locations that lack grid-connectivity is a global challenge. In Australia, off-grid communities and mining sites that are not connected to the electrical grid meet their electricity demand primarily through diesel generator systems. The economic and environmental ramifications associated with diesel generators can be minimised using hybrid renewable energy technologies. This study aims to identify the optimal combination of technologies in a hybrid system consisting of concentrating solar thermal (CST), solar photovoltaic (PV), battery storage and diesel generators. Optimisation is carried out through an economic analysis based on minimisation of the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). The CST system considered here utilises a supercritical CO2 power cycle, which presents increased suitability for small scales (<10 MW). The efficiencies and costs of the CST system are closely related to the turbine inlet temperature. In this work, three temperatures are explored to identify the optimal case. The results indicate that the optimal system consists of CST (650 °C) as the primary source of baseload power, with PV and diesel generation serving as supplementary sources. These systems present significant reductions in LCOE and emissions compared to the diesel base case, and therefore offer a promising solution for remote electricity.

Suggested Citation

  • Balaji, Vishak & Gurgenci, Hal, 2019. "Search for optimum renewable mix for Australian off-grid power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 1234-1245.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:175:y:2019:i:c:p:1234-1245
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.089
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Byrnes, Liam & Brown, Colin & Wagner, Liam & Foster, John, 2016. "Reviewing the viability of renewable energy in community electrification: The case of remote Western Australian communities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 470-481.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jann Michael Weinand & Maximilian Hoffmann & Jan Gopfert & Tom Terlouw & Julian Schonau & Patrick Kuckertz & Russell McKenna & Leander Kotzur & Jochen Lin{ss}en & Detlef Stolten, 2022. "Global LCOEs of decentralized off-grid renewable energy systems," Papers 2212.12742, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2023.
    2. Weinand, Jann Michael & Scheller, Fabian & McKenna, Russell, 2020. "Reviewing energy system modelling of decentralized energy autonomy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. Jurasz, Jakub & Guezgouz, Mohammed & Campana, Pietro E. & Kies, Alexander, 2022. "On the impact of load profile data on the optimization results of off-grid energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    4. Cai, Wei & Li, Xing & Maleki, Akbar & Pourfayaz, Fathollah & Rosen, Marc A. & Alhuyi Nazari, Mohammad & Bui, Dieu Tien, 2020. "Optimal sizing and location based on economic parameters for an off-grid application of a hybrid system with photovoltaic, battery and diesel technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    5. Brumana, Giovanni & Franchini, Giuseppe & Ghirardi, Elisa & Perdichizzi, Antonio, 2022. "Techno-economic optimization of hybrid power generation systems: A renewables community case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).

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