Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 89-95)

ABSTRACT
Based on current available data, load, and climatic conditions, this thesis optimizes an
integrated hybrid renewable energy system (PV-wind) in Sultanat of Oman (Thumrait
area) in terms of efficiency and cost by designing of two systems, being on grid and offgrid
systems. Thumrait is chosen because it has high yearly average wind speed of 6.45
m/s as well as its average sun radiation of about 6.12 kWh/m2/day. In addition, projects
of renewable energy request more lands than non-renewable projects, which the proposed
city can handle. Several simulations are run for each case using (HOMER) software to
generate the overall sizing strategy that is used for techno-economic evaluations. The first
step is to determine the normal load profiles for the specified area. Similarly, the average
daily (GHI) and wind speeds values for the proposed location are obtained from NASA
through HOMER software (HOMER software, Resources).
The optimal configuration for the first case, the off-grid system with PV cells, wind
turbines, storage batteries, and a diesel generator, is optimized with 31,316 kW of PV
capacity, nine wind turbines, 119 storage batteries, a total Net Present Cost of $
108,051,100.00, and a levelized cost of energy, LCOE, of 0.103 $/KWh. The CO2
emissions for this case is 2,426,483 kg per year. The second case study focuses on grid
connected HRES, which comprises solar panels, wind turbines, and the possibility of
adding a battery bank. In this scenario, the optimal HRES configuration has 113,785 kW
of solar capacity and 22,500 kW of wind production (15WTs), with a cumulative value of
Net Present Cost of $23,655,900.00 and an LCOE ($/KWh) of 0.00608. CO2 emissions
totals 10,546,917 kg per year for this system. The hybrid grid-connected system has the
lowest value of COE with 0.00608 $ and the lowest NPC based on the results of both offgrid
and on-grid systems. This system arrangement's NPC and Initial Cost (IC) are
23,655,900 $ and 114,794,170 $, respectively. The Initial Cost, on the other hand, is higher
than that of an off-grid hybrid system (73.09 M$), and it is approximately one-and-a-half
times that of an off-grid system. Thus, in the case of limited investment budget, the offgrid
system is recommended, whereas the on-grid system is the best option for long-term
investment. Regarding renewable fraction status, the two best designs generate a large
percentage of RESs, greater than 95 percent, indicating that these systems are the most
environmentally friendly.