Evaluation of the techno-economic opportunities of PV/WIND/DG/BATTERY hybrid system for Yekaterinburg, Russia

Russia’s sources of electricity generation have been mainly from fossil fuels duel to the country’s abundant hydrocarbon resources, and nuclear power plants. The country has huge renewable energy potentials which are yet to be fully developed. This study evaluated the techno-economic potential of a PV/Wind/DG/Battery system for integration in Yekaterinburg and other rural areas around that enclave. The Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources software was used in the simulation of the system, some financial metrics such as levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and the net present cost (NPC) were used in the analysis. Results from the monthly electricity generation indicate that a total of 75,469 kWh/year of electricity was produced from the hybrid system. The PV system produced 29,405 kWh/year representing 39% of the total electricity generated in a year. The wind system also produced 23,291 kWh/year which also represent 30.9% of the total electricity generated per annum, whiles the DG system produced some 22,773 kWh/year representing 30.1% of the total electricity generated by the hybrid system. An excess electricity of 2,353 kWh/year was generated which represents about 3.12% of the entire annual generated electricity. The system recorded an LCOE of 0.356 $/kWh, NPC of $255,478.80 and an operating cost (OC) of $9,409.72. The obtained results will be too expensive if implemented using the selected financial conditions. However, a sensitivity analysis conducted indicates that the cost of energy can be significantly reduced if some selected financial variables are changed.

1. Rad, M.A. Ghasempour R, Rahdan P, Mousavi S, Arastounia M. Techno-economic analysis of a hybrid power system based on the cost-effective hydrogen production method for rural electrification, a case study in Iran // Energy. - 2020. - 190. - 116421.

2. Agyekum, E.B., Ansah M.N.S., K.B Afornu. Nuclear energy for sustainable development: SWOT analysis on Ghana’s nuclear agenda // Energy Rep. - 2020. - 6. - 107–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2019.11.163.

3. Abdin, Z, Merida, W. Hybrid energy systems for off-grid power supply and hydrogen production based on renewable energy: A techno-economic analysis // Energy Conversion and Management. 2019. - 196. - 1068-79.

4. Agyekum E.B., Velkin V.I., Hossain I. Comparative evaluation of renewable energy scenario in Ghana // In: IOP conference series: materials science and engineering. 2019. - (Vol. 643, No. 1, p. 012157). doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/643/1/012157.

5. Ansong M., Mensah, L.D, Adaramola, M. S. Techno-economic analysis of a hybrid system to power a mine in an off-grid area in Ghana // Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 2017. – 23. - 48-56.

6. Agyekum, E. B., Nutakor C. Feasibility study and economic analysis of stand-alone hybrid energy system for southern Ghana // Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 2020. - 39. - 100695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2020.100695.

7. Elkadeem, M.R., Wang S, Sharshir S.W., Atia E.G. Feasibility analysis and techno-economic design of grid-isolated hybrid renewable energy system for electrification of agriculture and irrigation area: A case study in Dongola, Sudan // Energy Conversion and Management. 2019. – 196. - 1453-78.

8. Velkin, V.I. Research efficiency of complex systems with spread spectrum renewable energy for electric power supply decentralized objects in Russia // WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. 2014. - 190. - 437-44.

9. Yekaterinburg, Russia latitude longitude: https://latitudelongitude.org/ru/yekaterinburg/ Accessed 10 April, 2020.

10. A city guide to Yekaterinburg: https://realrussia.co.uk/Info/Destinations/Yekaterinburg Accessed 10 April, 2020.

11. Agyekum, E.B., Velkin V.I., Hossain I. Sustainable energy: Is it nuclear or solar for African Countries? Case study on Ghana // Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 2020. - 37. - 100630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2020.100630.

12. Odou, O.D.T et al. Hybrid off-grid renewable power system for sustainable rural electrification in Benin // Renewable Energy. 2020. - 145. - 1266-1279.

13. Azimoh, C.L., Klintenberg P., Wallin F., Karlsson B., Mbohwa C. Electricity for development: minigrid solution for rural electrification in South Africa // Energy Convers Manage. 2016. – 110. - 268–77.

14. Russia Diesel prices, 21-Oct-2019: https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Russia/diesel_prices/ Accessed 30 Dec, 2019.