Technical design and optimal energy management of a hybrid photovoltaic biogas energy system using multi-objective grey wolf optimisation

Renewable energy is the eventual objective for alleviating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and for energy affordability and reliability. This study addresses these issues in Jordan, as an oil-importing developing country. This is done by investigating an optimal sizing methodology for a hybrid photovoltaic (PV) biogas energy system in Ramtha, Jordan in case of on-grid and off-grid system's configurations. The multi-objective grey wolf optimisation algorithm is used to get non-dominant solutions of loss of power supply probability (LPSP) and total current cost (TCC) in a case and GHG emissions with TCC in another case. Hourly measured real values of solar irradiance, temperature, municipal solid wastes and load demand are obtained from formal institutions in Jordan. Detailed mathematical modelling is performed for the proposed system to precisely evaluate its performance. Non-dominant Pareto points are discussed in each Pareto front. These include affordable, compromised, and reliable or environmental Pareto points. The on-grid system is found to be more reliable and cost-effective than the off-grid PV biogas energy system. Further, the compromised solution of the on-grid system is found to be environmentally friendly. Finally, uncertainty investigation is conducted to examine the validity and test strength of the system's design.