Optimal design of battery energy storage system for a wind–diesel off-grid power system in a remote Canadian community

This study focuses on the design issue of battery energy storage system (BESS) for a wind–diesel off-grid power system located in the Whapmagoostui community in Quebec, Canada. The local range of wind speed is from 0 to 24.8417 m/s, and the total yearly load demand in 2013 was 11,176 MWh. An optimal planning model is proposed in this study with the objectives of maximising the economic, environmental benefits, and reliability of the system. The battery energy capacity and the rated capacity of converter are selected as the optimal variables. In order to consider the impacts of renewable energy randomness, the uncertainty of component failures, and the power flow constraints on planning results, quasi-steady state simulation is adopted to calculate the indices for each design scheme of BESS. The proposed optimal planning model of BESS is implemented and verified in the Whapmagoostui community. Also, a detailed analysis of several scenarios is presented. A base scenario with three diesel generators and four wind turbines is investigated, and its optimal BESS integration reduces fuel consumption by 4% and improves the average annual profit by 19%. The optimal designing of BESS enhances the economic, environmental benefits, and reliability of the wind–diesel system with high fuel prices in the Whapmagoostui community.