Unlocking the Potential of Solar-Hydro Hybrid Solutions: Feasibility and Economic Analysis
(2023) In CODEN:LUTEDX/TEIE EIEM01 20231Industrial Electrical Engineering and Automation
- Abstract
- Hybrid solutions that combine multiple renewable energy sources, such as solar power and hydro power, are gaining popularity as a means of meeting the growing energy demands while minimising environmental impacts, but also as an opportunity of connecting solar power plants to the grid in areas where this might not be possible unless large investments are made. This master thesis aims to evaluate the feasibility and economic viability of integrating solar panels with an existing grid connection point at a hydro power plant, along with the introduction of an energy storage solution using a hydro power plant reservoir. The study is conducted in cooperation with Eolus Vind AB and focuses on a selected site at Karsefors in southern Sweden, but... (More)
- Hybrid solutions that combine multiple renewable energy sources, such as solar power and hydro power, are gaining popularity as a means of meeting the growing energy demands while minimising environmental impacts, but also as an opportunity of connecting solar power plants to the grid in areas where this might not be possible unless large investments are made. This master thesis aims to evaluate the feasibility and economic viability of integrating solar panels with an existing grid connection point at a hydro power plant, along with the introduction of an energy storage solution using a hydro power plant reservoir. The study is conducted in cooperation with Eolus Vind AB and focuses on a selected site at Karsefors in southern Sweden, but also discusses hybrid solutions in a broader context, considering other solar and hydro power technologies such as pumped hydro power and floating PV, emphasising their potential advantages and challenges.
Four different scenarios are simulated and analysed, including standalone hydro power production, standalone solar power production, and two hybrid solar-hydro power production scenarios with and without an implemented refinement method. The simulations provide insights into the benefits and disadvantages of implementing a hybrid system compared to standalone solar and hydro power plants. The study examines technical aspects such as grid utilisation, curtailment and refinement methods, as well as economic factors such as income generation, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback time.
The results indicate that the technical and operational feasibility of a solar-hydro hybrid system at a shared grid connection point was found to be viable. The study highlights the potential to reduce curtailment and grid capacity limitations through refinement methods. However, curtailment may still be necessary during certain periods. The economic analysis revealed mixed results with suboptimal financial metrics but higher income for the hybrid scenarios compared to standalone systems. Alternative hybrid solutions like pumped hydro power and floating PV offer additional possibilities for storage and synergies, but require trade-offs and consideration of implementation costs and environmental impacts. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- This master thesis was conducted with the purpose of increasing the insights in hybrid power production systems containing solar and hydro power, from a profitability and feasibility perspective, by constructing and connecting a solar power plant to an existing hydro power plant at its grid connection point. Several methods of constructing and operating such a hybrid system were studied to get a better understanding of its potential.
A hybrid system containing solar and hydro power production is an interesting and important subject for future power systems as it can increase the utilisation of hydro power reservoirs as energy storage. The intermittent nature of solar power production combined with a more controllable energy source, such... (More) - This master thesis was conducted with the purpose of increasing the insights in hybrid power production systems containing solar and hydro power, from a profitability and feasibility perspective, by constructing and connecting a solar power plant to an existing hydro power plant at its grid connection point. Several methods of constructing and operating such a hybrid system were studied to get a better understanding of its potential.
A hybrid system containing solar and hydro power production is an interesting and important subject for future power systems as it can increase the utilisation of hydro power reservoirs as energy storage. The intermittent nature of solar power production combined with a more controllable energy source, such as a hydro power plant, introduce new aspects to power production where refinement methods for the hydro power production can be implemented to increase profits and smooth out power production throughout the day. In addition to this, the solar power investment costs can be minimised as the otherwise high costs for building a new grid connection point with all its components can be omitted. The study is mainly focused on analysing conventional solar power and hydro power as all simulations and calculations are based on such a system. However, it also introduces other interesting solutions to a possible solar-hydro hybrid system, such as pumped hydro power and floating solar panels. Pumped hydro power is a hydro power plant where water from the lower reservoir can be pumped back up to the upper reservoir.
The simulations and calculations are made for four different scenarios to make room for comparison between different systems. They include one scenario each for the hydro power and solar power plant running independently of each other and two scenarios where they act as a hybrid system, one which utilise a refinement method and the other that does not. The simulations were made for two sizes of the solar power plant with one producing above the grid connection capacity at peak hours and the other producing precisely the amount of power that the grid connection can handle. The results indicate that installing a hybrid system is feasible as the hydro power plant on a yearly average only utilise about half the available capacity in the grid connection point, leaving room for connecting a solar power plant. From a profitability perspective the hybrid systems can be considered more profitable than an independent solar power plant, mainly due to the minimised installation costs. The refinement method implemented in this study shows that by refining a hybrid systems power production, in form of utilising stored energy in a hydro power reservoir, the profitability is increased even further and less energy is wasted. When comparing the results for the two different sized solar power plants it is indicated that there is more curtailed energy in the case for the larger solar power plant. However, overall power production as well as the total yearly income is also increased. In the case of the larger solar power plant installation, pumped hydro power becomes an interesting solution as it can utilise the otherwise curtailed energy at peak solar power production by pumping water from the lower to the upper reservoir. Floating solar panels are also an interesting solution to a hybrid system, as it can be installed in the hydro power reservoir, minimising ground coverage and distance to the grid connection point at the hydro power plant.
What the future holds for solar-hydro hybrid power system is uncertain, but as this thesis indicate optimistic results, the research and implementation of such systems will hopefully expand in the future. Future research in the area is still needed to find the most viable and profitable solution. Pumped hydro power and floating solar panels introduce other dimensions to the hybrid system but requires further research, especially floating solar panels as it is a fairly new technology. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9133782
- author
- Rosberg, Måns LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- EIEM01 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- Hydropower, Solarpower, Hybrid power production, Solar-hydro hybrid power, Reservoir storage, Energy storage, Pumped hydro power, Floating PV, PV, Photovoltaics
- publication/series
- CODEN:LUTEDX/TEIE
- report number
- 5498
- language
- English
- id
- 9133782
- date added to LUP
- 2023-08-29 12:55:59
- date last changed
- 2023-08-29 12:55:59
@misc{9133782,
abstract = {{Hybrid solutions that combine multiple renewable energy sources, such as solar power and hydro power, are gaining popularity as a means of meeting the growing energy demands while minimising environmental impacts, but also as an opportunity of connecting solar power plants to the grid in areas where this might not be possible unless large investments are made. This master thesis aims to evaluate the feasibility and economic viability of integrating solar panels with an existing grid connection point at a hydro power plant, along with the introduction of an energy storage solution using a hydro power plant reservoir. The study is conducted in cooperation with Eolus Vind AB and focuses on a selected site at Karsefors in southern Sweden, but also discusses hybrid solutions in a broader context, considering other solar and hydro power technologies such as pumped hydro power and floating PV, emphasising their potential advantages and challenges.
Four different scenarios are simulated and analysed, including standalone hydro power production, standalone solar power production, and two hybrid solar-hydro power production scenarios with and without an implemented refinement method. The simulations provide insights into the benefits and disadvantages of implementing a hybrid system compared to standalone solar and hydro power plants. The study examines technical aspects such as grid utilisation, curtailment and refinement methods, as well as economic factors such as income generation, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback time.
The results indicate that the technical and operational feasibility of a solar-hydro hybrid system at a shared grid connection point was found to be viable. The study highlights the potential to reduce curtailment and grid capacity limitations through refinement methods. However, curtailment may still be necessary during certain periods. The economic analysis revealed mixed results with suboptimal financial metrics but higher income for the hybrid scenarios compared to standalone systems. Alternative hybrid solutions like pumped hydro power and floating PV offer additional possibilities for storage and synergies, but require trade-offs and consideration of implementation costs and environmental impacts.}},
author = {{Rosberg, Måns}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{CODEN:LUTEDX/TEIE}},
title = {{Unlocking the Potential of Solar-Hydro Hybrid Solutions: Feasibility and Economic Analysis}},
year = {{2023}},
}