A LOGISTICAL MODEL FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF HYBRID GENERATION SYSTEMS

In order to evaluate the fuel and energy savings, and to focus on the problems related to the exploitation of combined renewable and convent ional energies, a logistical model for hybrid generation systems (HGS' s) has been prepared. A software package written in ACSL, allowing eas y handling of the models and data of the HGS components, is presented. A special feature of the proposed model is that an auxiliary fictitio us source is introduced in order to obtain the power electric balance at the busbars during the simulation stage and, also, in the case of i ll-sized components. The observed imbalance powers are then used to up date the system design. As a case study, the simulation program is app lied to evaluate the energetic performance of a power plant relative t o a small isolated community, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, in o rder to establish the potential improvement achievable via an optimal integration of renewable energy sources in conventional plants. Evalua tions and comparisons among different-sized wind, photovoltaic, and di esel groups, as well as of different management strategies have been p erformed using the simulation package and are reported and discussed i n order to present the track followed to select the final design.