OPTIMIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE HYBRID MICROGRID FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES (Inpress)

2024-10-01T18:39:01+08:00

The energy crisis problem in rural communities of developing countries is fast becoming a contemporary challenge to advancing global socioeconomic systems. Finding sustainable solutions for improving the energy supply to rural communities is significant. Thus, this paper presents the optimization of a hybrid microgrid with integrated energy components of Photovoltaic (PV) systems, Diesel Generators (DG) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These energy components were configured and techno-economically investigated in three different scenarios of PV/BESS, PV/DG/BESS and DG only for load power supply to an isolated unelectrified Nigerian community. To the relevant decision factors, the chosen objective functions of the Deficit Power Supply Probability (DPSP), the Cost of Energy (COE), and the Net Present Cost (NPC) were minimized. In addition, new intelligent multi-objective computational methods such as Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO), Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) were applied to handle the optimization problems. Based on the input techno-economic and meteorological data applied for the simulations, the best solution for the optimal sizing configuration was obtained by the PV/BESS through the FPA with the NPC value of $95,432.02, COE of 0.165 $/kWh and zero GHG emissions. A value of 1.72% DPSP was also obtained for the PV/BESS hybrid configuration. This indicates that unlike PV/DG/BESS and DG alone, PV/BESS is techno-economically viable for the electrification of the case study community.

THE HYDROTHERMAL VENT RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE DEEP OF THE SEA IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (Inpress)

2024-09-25T21:37:08+08:00

In just forty years, numerous hydrothermal vent fields have been identified, spread across tectonic plate boundaries on the ocean floor. The substantial biomass of vent invertebrates, which can reach up to tens of kilograms per square meter, has sparked interest in their role in contributing to the deep-sea organic carbon pool, which is otherwise limited in resources. However, the rate at which organic carbon is produced through chemosynthesis at these deep-sea vents varies widely and remains inadequately understood. Despite advancements in molecular techniques and in situ sensors, the factors determining how vent communities utilize available chemical energy resources are still largely unclear. The intent of this research is to examine hydrothermal vents as an alternative energy and a new resource of renewable energy. Hydrothermal vent energy is very worthy of being a new renewable energy resource. Although the hydrothermal vent is hard to find since we know that the position of these resources is much deeper, We know that we can make these new resources useful for reducing emissions. Hydrothermal vents are deep in the offshore. They are formed from the conserved remains of animals and plants. As hydrothermal vents are buried deep underground, geological knowledge and advanced equipment are required to reach them. This research showed the renewable energy in the deep sea is hard to find but worthy. However, the hydrothermal vent is a new resource in the deep of the sea and can be useful in reducing emissions.

International Journal of Renewable Energy Resources

OPTIMIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE HYBRID MICROGRID FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES (Inpress)

THE HYDROTHERMAL VENT RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE DEEP OF THE SEA IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (Inpress)