Coordinated power management strategy for reliable hybridization of multi-source systems using hybrid MPPT algorithms

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Power Electronics
• Energy Storage Technologies

Background:

• Remote locations require reliable and sustainable energy solutions.
• Integrating solar and wind power presents challenges in optimizing energy generation and storage.
• Existing energy storage systems like batteries have limitations in energy density and cycle life, while supercapacitors offer high power density but low energy density.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a hybrid power optimization strategy for integrating solar and wind energy in a remote location.
• To design and assess a multi-energy storage system combining batteries and supercapacitors for enhanced performance and longevity.
• To introduce a novel power management algorithm for efficient control and state-of-charge maintenance of the hybrid energy storage system.

Main Methods:

• Hybrid Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms combining Perturb & Observe (P&O) and Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) for photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine systems.
• Implementation of a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) comprising batteries and supercapacitors.
• Development of a novel, simple, and effective power management algorithm to control the HESS and maintain State of Charge (SOC) within defined limits.

Main Results:

• The proposed hybrid MPPT strategies effectively optimize PV and wind turbine operation, minimizing stress on energy storage components.
• The novel power management algorithm successfully maintained the SOC of both batteries and supercapacitors within desired operational ranges.
• A comparative analysis demonstrated that the proposed HESS design significantly reduces stress on storage components compared to a battery-only system, potentially extending lifespan.

Conclusions:

• The integrated system utilizing both solar and wind resources, coupled with a HESS and advanced MPPT, is an optimal solution for remote areas with complementary renewable resources.
• The developed power management strategy ensures the longevity and maximizes the performance of batteries and supercapacitors.
• An economic feasibility study using Homer Pro confirmed the viability of the proposed hybrid system for the studied remote location.