Multiobjective optimisation of hybrid wind-PV-battery-fuel cell-electrolyser-diesel systems: An integrated configuration-size formulation approach

A generic integrated configuration-size optimisation formulation for design of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) is presented in this paper. This formulation allows identifying the optimum configuration for a given site and the optimum size of each component in that configuration by solving only one optimisation problem. Single and multiobjective case studies are defined for both on-grid and standalone systems using wind turbine, PV panel, battery bank, fuel cell, electrolyser and diesel generator as potential components. To solve the optimisation problems a genetic algorithm (GA) and a nondominated sorting GA (NSGA-II) are developed, in which the reproduction operators are designed carefully for robust exploration and exploitation at both size and configuration levels. Eight single and multiobjective case studies for a variety of renewable resources, objectives and constraints are conducted. The results show the versatility of the problem formulation in defining different HRES design problems and the robustness of the developed GA and NSGA-II in search within the design space at both configuration and size levels and finding the optimum size and configuration simultaneously.