Implementing Tri-Brid Energy Systems for Renewable Integration in Southern Alberta, Canada

Mohammad Adnan Aftab (), James Byrne, Paul Hazendonk, Dan Johnson, Locke Spencer and Tim Weis
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Mohammad Adnan Aftab: Department of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
James Byrne: Department of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Paul Hazendonk: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Dan Johnson: Department of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Locke Spencer: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Tim Weis: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada

Clean Technol., 2024, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: The steep decline in the price of wind turbines and solar photovoltaics provides a possibility to decarbonize electricity deeply and affordably. This study uses the HOMER Pro energy modeling tool to model an optimized grid-connected renewable energy system for a community in southern Alberta, Canada. The study’s goal is to identify the best renewable energy technology combinations that can provide electricity at the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and has lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to the electricity produced by traditional fossil fuel. Gleichen is a small town in southern Alberta that is close to numerous commercial wind and solar projects given the region’s high quality renewable resources. “Tri-brid” systems consisting of wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are considered and compared based on electricity prices, net present cost, and greenhouse gas emissions savings. This tri-brid system is connected to the grid to sell excess generated electricity or buy electricity when there is less or no availability of solar and wind energy. The tri-brid energy system has an estimated LCOE of 0.0705 CAD/kWh, which is competitive with the price of electricity generated by natural gas and coal, which is 0.127 CAD/kWh.

Keywords: renewable energy; cleaner electricity; LCOE; HOMER Pro; Alberta; Canada (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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