IEEE Access (Jan 2022)
Feasibility Study and Deployment of Solar Photovoltaic System to Enhance Energy Economics of King Abdullah Campus, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffarabad, AJK Pakistan
Abstract
As non-renewable energy sources become depleted, the world is transitioning toward renewable energy sources (RERs), which entail several significant advantages, including cost savings, large-scale availability, and minimal losses. Pakistan is sixth among the countries most affected by global warming and abrupt climatic changes. Severe floods, catastrophic rains, and wind gusts have created new challenges in the country regarding resilient and reliable power supply. Due to harsh weather conditions, the power shut down, blackouts, and prolonged fault in the transmission systems are common and cause millions of dollars in economic losses annually. The main challenge of providing a reliable power supply while satisfying the climatic conditions to use renewable energy resources has a global significance. This article aims to develop a hybrid power network (PV/Battery/Grid) for King Abdullah Campus, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. The results for the proposed system are compared with the existing system while they are supplying the same power to the load. The cost of energy (COE) from the existing on- grid Hybrid system is Rs.27.32/kWh. It can be seen that energy cost is minimized by up to Rs.0.251/kWh by the effective use of solar energy. Optimization results conclude that the on- grid hybrid (PV/Battery/Convertor/Grid) is more efficient than all other configurations. Therefore, it is concluded that the proposed hybrid power system for grid-connected sites is most efficient, stable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. The ultimate goal was to design an economically feasible hybrid power system and analyze the techno-socio impacts of the PV hybrid system for the campus. Data were initially collected for the desired site and then simulated via the HOMER simulation tool, which determined the net load and feasibility of the proposed system. This techno-economic analysis of the PV hybrid system will enhance the utilization of solar power in other educational or commercial facilities in the region may follow the path in the future.
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