Generation Expansion Planning and Evaluation in the Context of Microgrids Using HOMER

The present paper investigates the generation expansion planning in the context of microgrids. A microgrid consisting of micro hydro turbine, PV array, biomass generator, diesel generator and batteries is integrated to a distribution grid. The microgrid is aimed to dispatch the load demand and transmit the extra power into the grid. The expansion planning is carried out with different sizes of the distributed generation sources. The dispatch strategy is decided by the optimization algorithm with objective function of minimizing the overall costs subject to constraints on minimum reserve margin, maximum fuel threshold and maximum environmental emissions. The optimization is realized using HOMER. The evaluation results show that the planned system is both technically and economically viable even in the presence of constraints.