Potential of autonomous/off-grid hybrid wind-diesel power system for electrification of a remote settlement in Saudi Arabia

In the present study, hourly mean wind-speed data recorded at Rafha, Saudi Arabia, have been analyzed for the potential of utilising autonomous hybrid (wind-diesel) power systems to meet the load requirements of a typical remote settlement, namely Rawdhat Bin Habbas, near Rafha and with a population of 10,000 and having an annual electrical energy demand of 13,200 MWh. The monthly average wind speeds range from 2.7 m/s to 4.2 m/s at 10 m height. The hybrid systems considered consist of different combinations of 1.3 MW commercial wind machines supplemented with diesel generators. National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) HOMER software has been used to evaluate the potential of hybrid wind-diesel power systems. The study indicates that for a hybrid system consisting of 3.9 MW (three 1.3 MW wind machines, 50 m hub-height) wind farm capacity together with 4.5 MW diesel system (three 1.5 MW units), the simulated wind penetration is 24%. The cost of electricity from this hybrid configuration is calculated to be 0.078 $/kWh (assuming a diesel fuel price of 0.1 $/litre). The results confirm that the number of operational hours of diesel generators in this wind diesel system decreases with increase in wind farm capacity. Emphasised are: wind penetration, reducing excess energy production, un-met load, cost of energy, effect of hub height on energy production, fuel-savings /reduction-in-carbon-emissions (relative to the diesel-only situation.