Technology Modelling of a PV-Hybrid Renewable Energy Power Plant - Case Study on Industrial Companies in Germany

This paper examines possible operating options of a grid-connected hybrid energy system (HES), including a photovoltaic (PV) system. Different technologies are examined, including fluctuating renewable energy sources (RES), especially PV and wind power, electrical energy storage (EES) and a biomass power plant. The aim of the work is to illustrate an optimal system design in combination with a most cost-effective operation of such a power plant. An existing optimization model is extended in order to analyse the operation and design of a hybrid energy system. The system design and operation is optimized under technical, economic and regulatory constraints within a single model. This optimization model is able to provide a market-oriented operation of the hybrid system under the consideration of energy demand, renewable energy resources and achieved market prices. The paper focuses on the cost-efficient electrical supply of an industrial company by the optional use of renewable energy sources at a location in Germany. Various scenarios are analysed to better define the properties and the sensitivity of the model. Thus, effects of external technical and economic conditions, such as variable market prices or fixed self-consumption, are examined for plant operation and system design. With the help of this work, it is shown under which conditions the investment in a HES with RES for an industrial company is optimal and how such a hybrid plant would be operated in the ideal case.