Abstract
This work develops a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimisation model for reduction of total annual cost (TAC) and associated carbon emissions for several neighbouring communities (prosumers) within a region sharing resources for off-grid hybrid power generation. Hybrid power caters for the intermittency of renewable energy sources, ensuring sufficient and reliable power supply. The off-grid hybrid power network comprises photovoltaic (PV), lithium batteries, diesel generator, as well as several supply chain biomass resources and technologies generating power for a region of neighbouring communities. The biomass resources available includes animal dung, human waste, crop residue, and fuel wood. A biomass gasifier and steam turbine are technologies available for biomass power generation. Resource sharing ensures a more holistic network optimisation that promotes economies of scale of power conversion technologies. Excess energy generated by a community can be transferred to one or more communities within the region. This has the potential to reduce the integrated network’s overall cost and carbon emissions. For the case study considered, which comprises seven co-located communities, results show levelised cost and carbon emission reduction of up to 61.6 % and 73.6 % respectively when resources are shared, compared to single community power generation.
