Optimisation of component sizes for a hybrid remote area power supply system

In this paper, an optimisation model for determination of the optimal sizes of various system components, including wind, diesel and energy storage, has been developed to obtain a reliable and cost-effective wind-diesel hybrid remote area power supply (RAPS) system. A linear programming based cost minimisation algorithm has been formulated for determination of optimal sizes of various components in a RAPS system with consideration of continually varying wind and system load. The system constraints, including power balance for both under-generation and over-generation scenarios, have been considered in the optimisation formulation. Optimisation model to minimize the total cost of the system based on hourly net present cost for both a one-day period and one-week period have been developed with allowance for unserved load during low wind conditions.