GA based Optimal Modeling of Integrated Renewable Energy System for Electrification of a Remote Rural Area

Over the years, renewable energy based power generation has proven to be a cost-effective solution in stand-alone applications in the regions where grid extension is difficult. The present study focused on optimal models and design of integrated renewable energy (IRE) system to satisfy the energy needs of seven un-electrified villages in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka state in India. The objective of the study is to minimize the total cost of generation and cost of energy using genetic algorithm (GA) based approach. Based on optimization power factor (OPF) and expected energy not supplied (EENS), optimum system feasibility has been investigated. Based on the study, it has been found that IRES can provide feasible solutions between 1.0 and 0.8 OPF values. However, power deficit occurs at OPF values less than 0.8 and proposed model becomes infeasible under such condition. Customer interruption cost (CIC) and deficit energy (DE) were also computed to quantify the reliability worth of the systems.