Performance Analysis and Sizing Optimization of a Utility Scale Stand-Alone Renewable Energy PV/Battery Storage System for Urban Zones

Abstract

The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources requires an effective solution for long-term energy storage. Battery integration has proven its economic viability as an effective technology for storing and ensuring the continuity of electricity, as well as its viability with renewable energy systems (RESs), particularly those utilizing photovoltaic (PV) technologies. However, determining the optimal size of system components remains a major challenge due to the nonlinear interactions between these components. This study aims to propose an effective methodology for establishing the ideal size of a solar photovoltaic system combined with batteries to ensure a sustainable electricity supply for the Wadi al-Shati region, an urban area located in southern Libya. Several constrained operational scenarios were studied under uncertainty to determine the ideal size of the proposed system using an iterative algorithm in a trial-and-error manner. The results showed that the proposed system consists of a 600 MW solar photovoltaic field with a battery storage capacity of 2,460 MWh, which generates enough energy to cover an estimated annual load of 590,018 MWh. The proposed system is expected to prevent the emission of approximately 611 tons of carbon dioxide per year, in addition to the possibility of exporting surplus energy. The total investment cost is estimated at $1.743 billion, while the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is estimated with and without considering the social cost of the CO2 emission and found as $62/MWh and $135/MWh, respectively, with a payback period of 11.51 and 19.86 years, respectively.