On Determining the Optimal Composition of Wind-Diesel Power Complexes Taking into Account Local Conditions

Abstract

This article describes an algorithm that has been developed for optimization of the compound and capacity of diesel generators (DGs) and wind turbines (WTs) functioning in wind–diesel systems (WDSs) taking into account data of grid loads and wind- and air-density variability as dependent on the elevation and time period for each area. The cost of electric energy generated by a WDS, degree of substitution of diesel-fuel consumption (by using wind turbines), payback period, net present value, and internal rate of return of WDS projects were chosen as optimization criteria. We developed software, EAST, based on the described algorithm, and determined the optimal configuration of a WDS for the town of Tiksi (Yakutia). Our findings are given in this paper. Optimization was performed for different ratios of the nominal capacity of diesel generators and wind turbines. We also calculated the energy and economic effect of using WDSs, which reaches a maximum if the ratio is around 1 (according to wind-energy-potential and grid-load data for the town of Tiksi). The degree of substitution of diesel-fuel consumption in this case reaches 35%, and the generated-energy cost drops up to 25%. According to calculations, the most energy- and cost-effective models of wind turbines for the WDS in Tiksi are VestasV-850 (Denmark) and GamesaG-58 (Spain), both with a rated power of 850 kW and a tower height of 55 m.