A wind/diesel hybrid system with desalination for Star Island, NH: feasibility study results

This paper summarizes a feasibility study for a wind–diesel hybrid system for Star Island, New Hampshire, that also includes a desalination system component. In addition to supplying electricity during the peak demand summer months, this system attempted to balance the seasonal mismatch between wind resource and electric demand load via the production and storage of potable water during the winter months. A proposed system configuration featuring wind–diesel components as well as a desalination system was analytically modeled using hybrid power system computational codes. Both reverse osmosis and variable-power mechanical vapor compression desalination plants were modeled. Using specific data obtained from the site, these models calculated the electrical generation as well as the excess energy produced by the wind turbines that would be available to power a desalination plant. Energy produced, fuel savings, and water processed (and stored) were determined for a number of commercially available wind turbines. This work has shown that is economical to install two or three 7.5 kW wind turbines on Star Island without desalination, even considering that much of the energy would be wasted in the winter. The economics of a proposed desalination system were not determined to be favorable at the present time. The proposed system, however, was determined to be technically feasible and it offers some interesting system design and environmental advantages.