Integrated optimal design of a photovoltaic/wind system for electricity and water production

Abstract

This paper investigates the integrated optimal design of a hybrid PV/wind generator coupled with two kinds of storage i.e. electric (battery) and hydraulic (tanks) devices for the production of electricity and drinking water in remote areas. Taking account wind and PV potentials in such system for assessing its performance implies its simulation over long periods of time. This can drastically increase the CPU time cost related to the design step, especially if the system energy management and sizing are sequentially integrated into a two level optimization process. In order to solve this problem and accelerate the system simulation, two complementary approaches are suggested. On one hand, metamodels are used for representing the system constraints and objectives. On the other hand, PV and wind cycles are compacted with a synthesis procedure which preserves their influence on the system performance with regard to the reference data. Those approaches are applied to the grey energy optimization of the studied hybrid system.