PV/Gensert/Battery Hybrid Power for the Remote Home: Cost Sensitivities and the Demonstration at Xeni Gwet'in

Andrew Swingler, CanmetENERGY
Mark Edmunds, Xantrex Technology Inc.

CETC Number 2007-148 / 2007-08-13

Abstract

In this paper the problem of providing off-grid electric power for the remote home is considered. A systematic analysis is conducted where gensets alone, genset / battery hybrids and photovoltaic (PV) / genset / battery hybrids are modeled and the delivered electricity costs are calculated. The hybrid scenarios are demonstrated to be superior to running the genset alone. The genset / battery hybrids and the PV / genset / battery hybrids deliver electricity for similar costs regardless of the genset technology or the amount of PV present. GHG emissions, on the other hand, are significantly reduced by adding PV to the genset / battery hybrids.

Results indicate that operating generators continuously to meet the residential load is cost prohibitive when compared to any of the hybrid-system alternatives. The results also indicate that the cost of operating either a genset / battery or PV / genset / battery hybrid is very similar; $1.4/kWh (± $0.2) regardless of the genset technology used or the amount of PV installed.

The paper concludes with a brief case study of a recently installed, highly-integrated PV / genset / battery system currently powering a residence in the Nemiah Valley of British Columbia, Canada. This installation is also the field reference for validating the modeling study and for gathering information on user preferences.

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