Government of Sri Lanka has policy target to achieve 100% electrification by end of year 2012. Grid-based electrification is possible up to maximum 95% of the population in Sri Lanka. Balance 5% of the electrification has to be mainly depending on off-grid technologies such as solar PV, wind, biomass and micro hydro.   Use of renewable based off-grid technologies is limited by the seasonal variation of the resource. This barrier could be overcome by coupling renewable based power generation technologies with a diesel generation thereby forming a hybrid power system. Given the comparatively higher investment cost, a hybrid power plant needs to be carefully designed and optimized to generate electricity at competitive prices.   There are some Isolated Islands located in the Jaffna Peninsula (Northern part of Sri Lanka) called Eluvaithivu, Analaithivu, Nainathivu and Delft Islands. These islands are far away from mainland. At present diesel generators are supplying electricity to these islands for limited hours. Electrification rate of these islands are very low due to the Grid limitations. Also cost of electricity generation is very high due to the high diesel price.   The main objective of the present study is “Selection of optimized mix of renewable based power generation technologies to form a mini-grid and to supply reliable, cost effective electricity supply to the people living in Eluvaithivu Island’ and thereby support the 100% electrification target by Govt. of Sri Lanka in 2012.   Data collection, survey has been conducted in the Eluvaithivu Island to find out the status of present system, priority needs, resource data and load data to propose suitable power system for this Island. An extensive analyse was conducted using HOMER software model and the result is presented in the report. Optimum design emerges as a wind-diesel hybrid power system having wind turbines generator, diesel generators, battery bank, converter and a hybrid controller.   The result revealed that the economic viability of the project, in the form of a community owned wind-diesel hybrid power system operated on cost-recovery basis is not feasible. But it is an attractive option for CEB to reduce its long term losses on diesel fuel. In other words, if CEB implement this project, it would be an ideal win-win situation where both the CEB and the island community are benefited.

The utilization of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy for electric power supply has received considerable attention in recent years due to adverse environmental impacts and fuel cost escalation associated with conventional generation. At the present time, wind and/or solar energy sources are utilized to generate electric power in many applications. Wind and solar energy will become important sources for power generation in the future because of their environmental, social and economic benefits, together with public support and government incentives. <p>The wind and sunlight are, however, unstable and variable energy sources, and behave far differently than conventional sources. Energy storage systems are, therefore, often required to smooth the fluctuating nature of the energy conversion system especially in small isolated applications. The research work presented in this thesis is focused on the development and application of reliability and economic benefits assessment associated with incorporating wind energy, solar energy and energy storage in power generating systems. A probabilistic approach using sequential Monte Carlo simulation was employed in this research and a number of analyses were conducted with regards to the adequacy and economic assessment of generation systems containing wind energy, solar energy and energy storage. The evaluation models and techniques incorporate risk index distributions and different operating strategies associated with diesel generation in small isolated systems. Deterministic and probabilistic techniques are combined in this thesis using a system well-being approach to provide useful adequacy indices for small isolated systems that include renewable energy and energy storage. The concepts presented and examples illustrated in this thesis will help power system planners and utility managers to assess the reliability and economic benefits of utilizing wind energy conversion systems, solar energy conversion systems and energy storage in electric power systems and provide useful input to the managerial decision process.

The utilization of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy for electric power supply has received considerable attention in recent years due to adverse environmental impacts and fuel cost escalation associated with conventional generation. At the present time, wind and/or solar energy sources are utilized to generate electric power in many applications. Wind and solar energy will become important sources for power generation in the future because of their environmental, social and economic benefits, together with public support and government incentives. <p>The wind and sunlight are, however, unstable and variable energy sources, and behave far differently than conventional sources. Energy storage systems are, therefore, often required to smooth the fluctuating nature of the energy conversion system especially in small isolated applications. The research work presented in this thesis is focused on the development and application of reliability and economic benefits assessment associated with incorporating wind energy, solar energy and energy storage in power generating systems. A probabilistic approach using sequential Monte Carlo simulation was employed in this research and a number of analyses were conducted with regards to the adequacy and economic assessment of generation systems containing wind energy, solar energy and energy storage. The evaluation models and techniques incorporate risk index distributions and different operating strategies associated with diesel generation in small isolated systems. Deterministic and probabilistic techniques are combined in this thesis using a system well-being approach to provide useful adequacy indices for small isolated systems that include renewable energy and energy storage. The concepts presented and examples illustrated in this thesis will help power system planners and utility managers to assess the reliability and economic benefits of utilizing wind energy conversion systems, solar energy conversion systems and energy storage in electric power systems and provide useful input to the managerial decision process.

Creative ways of utilising renewable energy sources in electricity generation especially in remote areas and particularly in countries depending on imported energy, while increasing energy security and reducing cost of such isolated off-grid systems, is becoming an urgently needed necessity for the effective strategic planning of Energy Systems. The aim of this research project was to design and implement a new decision support framework for the optimal design of hybrid micro grids considering different types of different technologies, where the design objective is to minimize the total cost of the hybrid micro grid while at the same time satisfying the required electric demand. Results of a comprehensive literature review, of existing analytical, decision support tools and literature on HPS, has identified the gaps and the necessary conceptual parts of an analytical decision support framework. As a result this research proposes and reports an Iterative Analytical Design Framework (IADF) and its implementation for the optimal design of an Off-grid renewable energy based hybrid smart micro-grid (OGREH-SμG) with intra and inter-grid (μG2μG & μG2G) synchronization capabilities and a novel storage technique. The modelling design and simulations were based on simulations conducted using HOMER Energy and MatLab/SIMULINK, Energy Planning and Design software platforms. The design, experimental proof of concept, verification and simulation of a new storage concept incorporating Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) fuel cell is also reported. The implementation of the smart components consisting Raspberry Pi that is devised and programmed for the semi-smart energy management framework (a novel control strategy, including synchronization capabilities) of the OGREH-SμG are also detailed and reported. The hybrid μG was designed and implemented as a case study for the Bayir/Jordan area. This research has provided an alternative decision support tool to solve Renewable Energy Integration for the optimal number, type and size of components to configure the hybrid μG. In addition this research has formulated and reported a linear cost function to mathematically verify computer based simulations and fine tune the solutions in the iterative framework and concluded that such solutions converge to a correct optimal approximation when considering the properties of the problem. As a result of this investigation it has been demonstrated that, the implemented and reported OGREH-SμG design incorporates wind and sun powered generation complemented with batteries, two fuel cell units and a diesel generator is a unique approach to Utilizing indigenous renewable energy with a capability of being able to synchronize with other μ-grids is the most effective and optimal way of electrifying developing countries with fewer resources in a sustainable way, with minimum impact on the environment while also achieving reductions in GHG. The dissertation concludes with suggested extensions to this work in the future.

[pt] O aumento da penetração de fontes de energia intermitentes é uma realidade dentro da matriz energética brasileira. A utilização em larga escala de energia renovável diminui a flexibilidade operativa com a redução da inércia equivalente sincronizada no sistema, podendo colocar em risco a segurança e a qualidade do suprimento de energia dos sistemas elétricos de potência com a diminuição da capacidade de regulação de frequência. Com expectativas de crescimento acentuado, surgem os dispositivos de armazenamento de energia (Energy Storage Devices – ESD) como uma alternativa viável para contornar essas dificuldades, principalmente quando se trata de um sistema de potência isolado. Nesta dissertação, avalia-se o comportamento dinâmico do sistema elétrico do estado de Roraima, através de uma metodologia desenvolvida para quantificar a penetração de energia renovável intermitente em sistemas isolados. Avalia-se também como a utilização de dispositivos de armazenamento de energia podem contribuir para o controle de frequência, observando as vantagens que tais dispositivos podem acarretar nesse sistema. A construção do Mapa de Decisão pode auxiliar as análises tanto na etapa de planejamento como na fase de programação e operação dos sistemas. Nas simulações realizadas foi possível constatar que a utilização de ESD pode promover um aumento significativo na penetração de usinas renováveis intermitentes, como eólica e solar fotovoltaica, em sistemas de potência isolados / [en] The increase in the penetration of intermittent energy sources is a reality within the Brazilian energy matrix. The large-scale use of renewable energy decreases the operational flexibility with the reduction of the equivalent inertia synchronized in the system, which can endanger the safety and quality of the energy supply of electric power systems with the reduction of the frequency regulation capacity. With expectations of sharp growth, energy storage devices (ESD) appear as a feasible alternative to overcome these difficulties, particularly when it comes to an isolated power network. In this dissertation, the dynamic assessment of the electrical system of the state of Roraima is evaluated, using a methodology developed to quantify the penetration of intermittent renewable energy in isolated systems. It is also evaluated how the use of energy storage devices can contribute to frequency control, observing the advantages that such devices can bring to this system. The construction of the Decision Map can assist the analyses during the planning, programming and operation phases. In the simulations carried out, it was possible to verify that the use of ESD can promote a significant increase in the penetration of intermittent renewable plants, such as wind and solar photovoltaic, in isolated power systems.

[pt] Os cerca de 250 Sistemas Isolados do Brasil, concentrados na região Norte, representam aproximadamente 1 por cento do consumo nacional de energia elétrica, sendo historicamente atendidos por meio de geradores a diesel, uma solução cara, poluente e dependente de uma complexa logística de fornecimento de combustível. Apesar de diversas publicações indicarem que fontes renováveis já são técnica e economicamente viáveis, sobretudo em economias dependentes de combustíveis caros, a geração a partir do diesel ainda predomina nessas localidades. Esta dissertação tem por objetivo hierarquizar propostas de políticas públicas, visando à inserção de fontes renováveis nos sistemas isolados do Brasil, por meio de uma ferramenta de análise multicritério. Com isso, ter-se-á a transição de dependência em combustíveis fósseis para uma economia baseada em energias renováveis. Para subsidiar a seleção e hierarquização dessas propostas, indo além das habituais avaliações técnico-econômicas, criou-se um modelo utilizando os métodos multicritério de apoio à decisão AHP e fuzzy-TOPSIS, por serem ferramentas reconhecidas como ideais para a modelagem de problemas em que subjetividade, incerteza e ambiguidades estejam presentes. Como resultado, concluiu-se que a política pública de maior impacto seria a implantação de projetos-piloto de usinas híbridas, combinando geração a diesel com fotovoltaica, por exemplo, de forma a auxiliar a transposição de barreiras culturais e de conhecimento sobre tecnologias alternativas nos sistemas isolados. Outras políticas apontadas como relevantes seriam: a simplificação do licenciamento ambiental de projetos baseados em fontes renováveis e a adoção de um modelo de planejamento determinativo, exigindo nos leilões uma penetração mínima dessas fontes. / [en] Isolated systems are those places not connected to the national grid, for technical or economic reasons and supplied by local generation. Nowadays in Brazil, there are about 250 isolated systems, concentrated in the Northern region, which sums only 1 percent of the electricity total consumption of the country, but represents around 40 percent of the territory. Most of these systems are supplied by diesel power plants, with a few examples of generation by natural gas, biomass or small-hydro. Historically, the diesel gensets have been an easy solution, due to its facility to build, operate and maintain. Also, these power plants do not require complex projects and large areas and have relatively low investment cost associated. Despite the complex logistics of fuel supply, mostly done by boats along Amazonian rivers, the energy generation has worked quite well in the last decades. However, the operational costs, especially those related to the fuel, are very high. In some places, depending on the season and navigability, it can reach R$ 10/liter (around US$ 3/l), resulting in high generation costs, that can achieve R$ 1,600/MWh (around US$ 450/MWh). All electricity consumers in Brazil share a great part of this cost. Other problems related to the diesel-based generation are the pollutant and greenhouse gases emissions, in the middle of the Amazon forest, where most of the isolated systems are located. Some effort has been made to connect isolated systems to the national grid, reducing the local generation, and consequently, its costs and emissions. However, the expansion of conventional power grid has high costs and, in some cases, technical and environmental constraints (Ribeiro, et al., 2012).