Feasibility of using renewable energy in Hormozgan province with emphasis on wind and solar energy

Master's Thesis in Electrical Engineering (M.S.C)

Trend: Power

Abstract

Currently, fossil resources are running out rapidly, and with increasing concern about air pollution and global warming, experts are thinking about using cleaner energy sources and more compatible with the environment. Among these, wind power and solar energy are two types of huge renewable energy sources.

Among the most common structures for exploiting these energies, we can mention the combination of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, but unfortunately, these renewable sources have completely variable efficiency. To reduce or completely eliminate these fluctuations, the power storage technology of storage batteries [1] (SB) can be used. In this thesis, while assessing the feasibility of using wind and solar renewable energy in Hormozgan province, the optimal location for the construction of a wind and solar power plant separately and a combined system is determined, and then an optimal wind and solar combined system is designed and subjected to technical and economic analysis on a case-by-case basis. For this purpose, first, by examining the meteorological maps based on the wind regime of the region in a 5-year period, the best region in terms of wind speed suitable for energy production by wind turbines will be determined, also the solar radiation maps of the region will be examined in a 5-year period, and the best region will be determined in terms of the amount of solar radiation for energy production by photovoltaic arrays. In the next step, taking into account all the above parameters and regional characteristics and using the analysis hierarchy algorithm (AHP)[2] and EC software[3], the appropriate location in Hormozgan province will be selected for the construction of a wind and solar power plant separately and a combined system. After choosing the right place to create a combined system in Hormozgan province, a grid-independent wind-solar combined system is designed by HOMER software. This combined system includes: wind turbine, solar array, power converter and storage batteries. Among the features of the proposed combined system of this software, it is possible to mention its ability to supply the consumption load of the region in all seasons of the year, as well as the minimum costs of construction, replacement and maintenance.

- Introduction

Today, the increasing warming of the earth's air due to the negative effects of greenhouse gases is one of the important and significant issues. The use of fossil fuels to supply the fuel needed by power plants, in addition to their rapid exhaustion, causes an increase in environmental pollution. According to the estimates, for every megawatt hour of energy produced with diesel fuel, 21.3 kg of oxides, carbon, and carbon monoxide and 675 kg of carbon dioxide enters the air (Estbasari et al., 2013). The reduction of fossil fuels has led to the use of renewable energy such as wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, etc. as clean, inexhaustible, unlimited and environmentally friendly resources (Douglas et. al., 2011). The advantage of renewable energy is that it is replaceable, ubiquitous and essentially non-polluting. Among the disadvantages of this energy, we can point out its low density and variety, which leads to high initial cost due to the need to occupy land and store or back-up power (Alamdari et. al., 2012).

Increasing the use of renewable energy causes economic growth, creating job opportunities, increasing national security, protecting consumers against rising prices, providing for the deficit related to the global fuel market, and significantly reducing pollutants that cause Global warming and greenhouse effects are discussed (Saidur et. al., 2010). Therefore, the problem that the policymakers of the electricity market are facing is how to introduce renewable energies into the electricity market so that these energies can play their role well in the future market. The mentioned characteristics of renewable energies have caused them to be used on a large scale today. Among the renewable energies, wind and solar energy are considered the most available energies. But one of their problems is their dependence on environmental and climatic conditions. The combination of two energy sources together can overcome the weakness of each of them (Hasan Alian et al., 2013). Today, the combined energy production system is one of the most promising solutions to meet the electricity demand.Today, the combined energy production system has become one of the most promising solutions to meet the electricity needs of different regions (Giraund et al., 2001). One of the most basic needs in the combined system is to ensure the continuity of feeding with additional energy storage from renewable energy sources (Hamidi et al., 2018). A hybrid energy system based on such alternative technologies that work in parallel with renewable sources can be a suitable solution for small productions (Mann, 2003). The combination of two energy sources has proven that energy production can be more efficient if combined. The use of hybrid power plant is usually in the agenda in remote areas. Today, the use of hybrid energy is a common problem in the world due to the increase in the price of fossil fuel (Widen, 2011). Usually, there can be various combinations of two or more energy sources, but the most important of them is the combination of two or more renewable energies, among which solar and wind energies can be mentioned. Usually, combined energy is used to produce electricity for domestic use and also in mills (Aksas et. al., 2011). The use of combined energy is a method that has received attention in recent years. Combined power plants have proven to be useful for reducing the defects and disadvantages of fossil fuels and can provide the energy needed in remote areas without harming the environment. Therefore, the construction of solar wind power plants can be a good idea (Katsigiannis et. al., 2012). Today, according to the progress made in the field of wind turbine construction and as a result of reducing electricity production costs, saving fossil resources and environmental attitudes in comparison with other forms of new energy, etc., the use of wind energy has become one of the most suitable renewable sources for electricity production in the world. In Iran, due to the prone windy areas and its location in the path of major air currents, while producing electricity from wind energy and injecting it into the country's national grid, it is also possible to create jobs for the people. Due to its relatively high height difference with the Caspian Sea and the existence of the natural channel of Sefidroud River, it has constant winds throughout the year. The graphs obtained from anemometers located in Manjil area show the average wind speed in this area is 8 to 12 meters per second and the maximum is 40 meters per second. According to the investigations, the wind intensity of Manjil region reaches its maximum in the summer season and its minimum in the winter season throughout the year.

The capacity of the Manjil wind power plant has reached 61180 kilowatts by the end of 2017, which is achieved by installing 11 wind turbines in Manjil wind sites (a total of 31 turbine units with a capacity of 13250 kilowatts), Peskulan (a total of 22 units). Turbine with a capacity of 14,520 kW), Rudbar (a total of 4 turbine units with a capacity of 2,150 kW), Herzevil (a total of 27 turbine units with a capacity of 13,500 kW), Siyaposh (a total of 26 turbine units with a capacity of 17,160 kW) and Babaian (a total of one turbine unit with a capacity of 600 kW) have been realized. The installation of turbines in different sites is due to the fact that the city of Manjil, the Sefidroud Dam lake, and the surrounding mountains have limited the space for installing the turbine complex.

Binalud Wind Power Plant:

Due to the suitability of wind conditions throughout the year in the Binalud area of ??Mashhad, this area has been chosen for the construction of the second wind power plant in the country. The average wind speed in this area is between 6 and 8 meters per second. 43 turbine units of 660 kW with a total capacity of 28380 kW have been installed in this power plant by the end of 2016. In 2016, 15180 kilowatts were added to the total capacity of this power plant. It should be mentioned that when the number of installed turbines reached 43 units, the development project of Binalo wind power plant was completed.

Wind power plant at Rudbar site:

This power plant in the city of Rudbar and Mes has an area of ??up to 20 hectares, where it is possible to build 19 turbines.