An-Najah Staff

The optimal design of Hybrid Photo Voltaic–Wind Turbine (PV–WT) grid connected power generation systems (PGSs) is not an easy or straightforward task, as the best configuration depends on many different uncertain socio-economic and environment variables, design parameters, technical constraints and government and policy maker interests. In this context, this work deals with the optimal design of grid connected PV–WT PGSs, achieved by using a suitable procedure based on a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) optimization approach. The method takes into consideration all the aforementioned issues, working toward optimizing amount of reduced emissions, total costs, and social acceptability, and providing a clear overview of the most suitable PV–WT design configurations. The proposed approach has been applied to different case studies and uncertainty analysis related to solar radiation, wind speed and load demand profiles variations has been carried out using a probabilistic approach; in addition, different criteria weights have been adopted for sensitivity analysis, where the importance of each design parameter has been assumed to be uncertain, and its effect on the final optimal design is investigated. Results confirm the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed approach, which could be assumed as a powerful decision making tool in designing hybrid renewable energy grid connected PGSs.

Palestine has a large number of rural small villages far from the national electric grids. Electrical loads in such villages are mostly small and can be covered by means of photovoltaic (PV) generators, which are economically more feasible than extending the electric grid or using diesel electric generators. Since PV has been rarely used in Palestine, this paper is devoted to investigating the potential of PV applications in Palestine, identifying the barriers for prevalence of PV applications as in other countries and demonstrating the reliability and feasibility of utilizing PV systems by presenting the test results of a PV system by supplying a rural clinic with its power demands. A method for designing the PV power system respecting the local environmental conditions is presented in this paper. The results of the measurements carried out over two years verify the reliability of the applied method. The illustrated test results show how far the PV-power generation can be matched with load demands and state of battery charge even during periods of low solar radiation. This could be achieved by respecting the local weather parameters in the illustrated sizing method. Long term field experience in designing, testing and operation of PV projects outside Palestine is presented in this paper.