Feasibility analysis of a renewable hybrid energy system with producer gas generator fulfilling remote household electricity demand in Southern Norway

Hybrid energy system is increasingly emerging as an option to produce energy for the remote areas. This paper presented an economic feasibility analysis of a single standalone house operating with a hybrid power plant consisting of a fixed capacity producer gas generator (2 kWe) and other renewable energy sources (Photovoltaic and wind). The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) was employed which evaluated techno-economic analysis based on the criteria of net present cost and levelized cost of electricity. Taking the site specific daily average solar radiation, average wind speed and load data into account, renewable hybrid model consisting of Bio/PV (Photovoltaic)/wind/battery/capacitor was found feasible giving 19,866 kWh/yr. of energy with a levelized cost of electricity of 0.306 kWh/yr. While comparing the hybrid system with a diesel or, natural gas generator alone, the maximum savings from CO2 emissions worth 22,626 kg/yr. was achieved. The sensitivity analysis over a range of diesel/natural/producer gas price (0.1 $/L to 1 $/L or, 0.1 $/m3 to 1.0 $/m3) showed that in addition to the environmental benefits hybrid energy configuration could result economic advantages when the producer gas price does not exceed the threshold of 0.1 $/m3.