Reliability and economic evaluation of small autonomous power systems containing only renewable energy sources.

Evaluation of reliability performance in every power system has to be done within a cost–benefit framework. This approach, however, is a very time consuming task, especially for systems that contain a large number of possible configurations, so simpler techniques referred to the calculation of reliability indices are used. In small autonomous power systems (SAPSs), such an evaluation uses mainly deterministic criteria. This approach, however, cannot be applied in SAPS that contain only renewable energy sources, due to the intermittent nature of the provided energy. In this paper, a complete reliability cost and worth analysis is implemented for these systems, combined with the calculation of some basic probabilistic indices, in order to discover their performance and propose the appropriate of them as a criterion of optimal system configuration. This paper proposes that normalized energy reliability indices as system minutes and energy index of unavailability can be used as adequate criteria of system's optimal performance. This conclusion is validated through a large number of sensitivity analysis studies that are based on different maximum annual loads and different mix of load types.

[1]  R. Billinton,et al.  A Canadian customer survey to assess power system reliability worth , 1994 .

[2]  Roy Billinton,et al.  Customer cost of electric service interruptions , 1989, Proc. IEEE.

[3]  E. N. Dialynas,et al.  Assessment of power interruption costs for the industrial customers in Greece , 1998, 8th International Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power. Proceedings (Cat. No.98EX227).

[4]  R. Billinton,et al.  Cost-effective wind energy utilization for reliable power supply , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[5]  Thomas Ackermann,et al.  Wind Power in Power Systems , 2005 .

[6]  R. Billinton,et al.  Incorporating well-being considerations in generating systems using energy storage , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[7]  Roy Billinton,et al.  Reliability evaluation of power systems , 1984 .

[8]  John K. Kaldellis,et al.  An integrated model for performance simulation of hybrid wind–diesel systems , 2007 .

[9]  John K. Kaldellis,et al.  Energy balance analysis of a stand-alone photovoltaic system, including variable system reliability impact , 2004 .

[10]  D. T. Swift-Hook.  The whole life costing of wind energy , 1997 .

[11]  Ahmed Lotfy,et al.  Reliability improvement of isolated generating systems by photovoltaic ac fusion converters , 2001 .

[12]  Mohammad Shahidehpour,et al.  The IEEE Reliability Test System-1996. A report prepared by the Reliability Test System Task Force of the Application of Probability Methods Subcommittee , 1999 .

[13]  Roy Billinton,et al.  Cost related reliability evaluation of bulk power systems , 2001 .

[14]  D. T. Swift-Hook,et al.  The value of storage on power systems with intermittent energy sources , 1994 .

[15]  Mohammad S. Alam,et al.  Reliability modeling and analysis of stand-alone PEM fuel cell power plants * , 2006 .

[16]  R. Billinton,et al.  Probabilistic assessment of power systems , 2000, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[17]  Maria G. Ioannides,et al.  Development of an experimental investigation procedure on double fed electric machine-based actuator for wind power systems , 2003 .

[18]  Pavlos S. Georgilakis.  STATE-OF-THE-ART OF DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THE CHOICE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES FOR ENERGY SUPPLY IN ISOLATED REGIONS , 2006 .