Optimization of Renewable Energy Efficiency using HOMER

Year 2014, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 421 - 427, 01.06.2014

Kenneth Eloghene Okedu Roland Uhunmwangho

Abstract

Hybrid Optimization Model for Electrical Renewable (HOMER), is a micro power optimization model, that simplifies the task of evaluating designs of both off-grid and grid-connected power systems for a variety of applications. The HOMER Hybrid Optimization Modeling Software is used for designing and analyzing hybrid power systems, which contain a mix of conventional generators, cogeneration, wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, hydropower, batteries, fuel cells, hydropower, biomass and other inputs. This paper investigates the energy efficiency of renewable energy system considering an isolated AC diesel generator. A model system consisting of a PV, three batteries and a converter system was considered. HOMER was able to calculate the best option that would give the best energy efficiency. Also, a further investigation was carried out considering two cases with two different load profiles to show that the load profiles affects the responses of the renewable energy system and the cash flow summary of some of the system equipments.

Keywords

HOMER; Network; Renewable energy; Optimization; Efficiency

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