Performance evaluation of an independent microgrid comprising an integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined cycle, large-scale photovoltaics, and a pumped-storage power station

Integrated coal gasification fuel cell (IGFC) combined cycle has significant advantages in power generation efficiency and reduced environmental impacts. Use of IGFCs for coal has increased throughout the world, and its power generation efficiency is higher than that of a conventional combined cycle. This study presents a method of applying a system comprising renewable energy, pumped-storage power generation, and IGFC as an independent microgrid. The IGFC is examined for its use as base load supply with a constant output. Potential technologies for interconnection with renewable energy have only recently begun to be investigated. This study proposes an operational method for stabilizing electric power supply and demand by adjusting the daily output of the IGFC and adjusting the input and output of the pumped-storage power station for each sampling period. Furthermore, when the proposed microgrid was introduced into the power load pattern on a representative day in Hokkaido, Japan, the relation between the load factor of the IGFC and the power generation efficiency of each power source was clarified. Moreover, the economic efficiency of the proposed IGFC and integrated gasification combined cycle was investigated, and the operational advantages of the IGFC were clarified.