A risk-averse framework for techno-economic analysis and size optimization of an off-grid hybrid energy system

In the power system, optimal sizing of hybrid energy systems (HESs) is a vital and challenging issue. Optimal sizing leads to designing a cost-effective and reliable power generation system. In such a problem, modelling the load uncertainty helps the planner to make appropriate decisions for optimizing the performance of HESs against possible changes of the electrical load. In this paper, techno-economic and optimal sizing of an off-grid photovoltaic-diesel generator-fuel cell (PV-diesel-FC) HES is investigated in two frameworks, risk-neutral strategy and risk-averse strategy, where the load uncertainty is modelled by information gap decision theory. To size the HES, objective function is defined as the total net present cost and with respect to a desirable loss of power supply probability, size of the system components is optimally determined. In the risk-averse framework, the sizing problem is solved with different critical tolerance levels of the objective function and the results are evaluated. Over the case study, simulation results show that at risk-averse framework, optimal combination of PV, diesel generator and FC leads to a cost-effective and reliable HES.