INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Year:2012 | Volume:3 | Issue:3|Papers Count:2

Ramea is a small island in southern Newfoundland. Since 2004, it has a wind-diesel hybrid power system to provide power for approximately 600 inhabitants. In this paper, wind speed data, load data, and sizing of pumped hydro system at Ramea, Newfoundland are presented. The dynamic model of wind turbine, pumped hydro system, and diesel generator are included in this paper. The dynamic model is simulated in SIMULINK/MATLAB to determine the system voltage and frequency variation and also to visualize different power outputs. Sizing of pumped hydro system indicates that a 150-kW pumped hydro storage system can be installed in Ramea to increase the renewable energy fraction to 37% which will reduce non-renewable fuel consumption on this island. Also, it is found that a pumped hydro energy storage system for Ramea is a much better choice than a hydrogen energy storage system. Such a system will have a higher overall efficiency and could be maintained using local technical expertise, therefore, a more appropriate technology for Ramea.

The Pacific Island Countries constantly struggle with the challenges of high petroleum dependence for their electricity production and lack of adequate energy services. It is possible to alleviate the energy poverty by utilizing abundant renewable energy resources available in the region. The objective of this work is to investigate the feasibility of a wind/solar photovoltaic/diesel generator-based hybrid power system in a remote location in Fiji islands. We used the Hybrid Optimisation Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) software to simulate the system and perform system optimisation analysis. The system characteristics were studied in terms of optimal configuration, net present cost and the cost of energy. An entirely renewable energy-based configuration is feasible if 10% annual capacity shortage is allowed, while for a scenario with no capacity shortage, addition of a diesel generator is necessary. The addition of renewable energy components results in greenhouse gas reduction which could be used for carbon trading.