Optimal Design and Comparison Between Renewable Energy System, with Battery Storage and Hydrogen Storage: Case of Djelfa, Algeria

Abstract

Algeria’s energy mix is almost exclusively based on fossil fuels (Meriem in Renewable Energy in Algeria Reality and Perspective, pp. 1–19, 2018) [1], especially natural gas. However, the country has enormous renewable energy potential, mainly solar, which the government is trying to harness by launching an ambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency programs (Ministry of Energy and Mining of Algeria in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program, 2011) [2]. Despite being a hydrocarbon-rich nation, Algeria is making efforts to harness its renewable energy potential. The renewable energies could represent an economic solution for the case of isolated sites, but their intermittency needs a storage system, that could be either by the use of batteries or hydrogen technologies. However, these two storage systems still face challenges, especially economic ones. This study deals with an economic study of several configurations of renewable energy systems, it aims to compare between the conventional storage systems and the new technologies of the hydrogen. In this study, HOMER will be used to simulate three configurations for a school on the high land region of Algeria named Had-Saharry. Many configurations will be simulated using HOMER in order to have an over view about the technoeconomic feasibility and the use of hydrogen for the storage. The system has been designed according to the school’s load profile. Then compare between the costs of the systems and their performance on the Algerian high lands weather conditions. As result the systems with batteries proved to be less expensive than the hydrogen storage, as well as, the hybrid system (PV, WECS) proved to be cost effective.