Evaluation of solar PV-based microgrids viability utilizing single and multi-criteria decision analysis

Essam M. Abo-Zahhad, Ahmed Rashwan, Tareq Salameh, Abdul Kadir Hamid, Asmaa Faragalla, Adel Z. El-Dein, Yong Chen and Esam H. Abdelhameed

Renewable Energy, 2024, vol. 221, issue C

Abstract: Feasibility analysis is crucial for solar projects to minimize risk and ensure goal achievement. Essential factors include the PV system's location, elevation, land slope, energy yield, soil texture, mean annual cloud frequency map, and distance from urban areas. This study examines the performance of a 3 MW PV system across five remote Egyptian regions characterized by desert weather conditions. The influence of available weather data sources and different yield estimation methods on the feasibility of the PV system is treated as a Single-Criteria Decision Making (SCDM) scheme. Meteorological data from Meteonorm 8.1, PVGIS, and NASA-SSE satellite data are utilized as input data for the designed PVsyst and ANSYS-based energy yield estimation models and for empirical formulas. Significant variations in estimated energy yield are observed, depending on the weather data source. The study also underscores the importance of diligently evaluating and comparing the accuracy and reliability of different weather data sources and estimation methods for simulating PV-based microgrid system performance. The yield estimation-based SCDM indicates that the New Valley PV system consistently outperformed the other systems. However, a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) indicates that the Red Sea performs well in technical criteria evaluation, while alternative Aswan City excels in practical and feasibility criteria assessment. The study employs the MCDM approach to provide a more detailed evaluation. Specifically, the technical criteria focus on energy yield, system efficiency, and reliability.

Keywords: PV-based microgrid system; Meteorological data; Feasibility analysis; Energy yield; Multi-criteria decision making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:221:y:2024:i:c:s0960148123016282

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119713

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