Optimized model of a solar PV-biogas-diesel hybrid energy system for Adorsho Char Island, Bangladesh

Adorsho Char is an island situated in the bank of Feni River, Bangladesh with a current population of 860. This island is underdeveloped and lacks the electricity supply from the main grid. Majority of the population make use of conventional means i.e candles, lanterns, kerosene wick lamps for lighting the households whereas some market area use solar PV at a very small scale. The aim of this paper is to present an optimized model of a solar PV-biogas-diesel hybrid energy system to provide electricity for the people living in the island. A field survey has been conducted to collect the information about the population, load demand, number of cattle and the current condition present in the island. Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) has been used to optimize the energy system modelled for daily peak demand of 35 kW (181 kWh/day). Batteries have been considered to facilitate electricity storage. The optimization result from HOMER consisting all energy resources reveals an optimized system architecture of 7.2 kW solar PV, 16 kW biogas generator, 9 kW Diesel generator and 12 batteries (1,900 Ah each) in terms of cost of electricity (COE). This system configuration provides electricity at 17.37 Taka/kWh ($0.217/kWh) with a net present cost of 8,573,095 Taka ($107,163.69).