The integration of pumped hydro storage systems into PV microgrids in rural areas

Author

Navid Mousavi, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Author Identifier

Navid Mousavi

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2819-5589

Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

School

School of Engineering

First Supervisor

Associate Professor Ganesh Kothapalli

Second Supervisor

Professor Daryoush Habibi

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are popular in rural areas because they provide low cost and clean electricity for homes and irrigation systems. The primary challenge of PV systems is their intermittent nature. The typical solution is storing energy in batteries; however, they are expensive and possess a short lifespan. This research proposes a new type of pumped hydro storage (PHS) which can be implemented as an alternative to batteries. The components of the system are modelled to consider losses of the system accurately. The mathematic model developed in this project assists the management system to make more efficient decisions. The proposed storage is integrated into a farmhouse that has a PV pumping system where economic aspects of implementing the proposed storage is investigated. The integration of the proposed PHS into a microgrid needs a management system to make this system efficient and 3 cost-effective. This research proposes a multi-stage management system to schedule and control the microgrid components for optimal integration of the PHS. The designed management system is able to manage the pump, turbine, and irrigation time on real-time taking into account both present and future conditions of the microgrid. This study investigates the technical aspects of the proposed system. The PHS and the management system are tested experimentally in a setup installed at smart energy laboratory at Edith Cowan university. Data used in this project are real data collected in the laboratory in order to have a realistic analysis. Economic analysis is done in different sizes with different conditions. Results indicate that the proposed system has a short payback period and a large lifetime benefit, featuring as a cost-effective and sustainable energy storage system for use in rural areas.

Video abstract: https://youtu.be/VuyEvHRY7W8

Related Publications

Mousavi, N., Kothapalli, G., Habibi, D., Das, C. K., & Baniasadi, A. (2020). A novel photovoltaic-pumped hydro storage microgrid applicable to rural areas. Applied Energy, 262, Article 114284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114284 Link to article available here.

Mousavi, N., Kothapalli, G., Habibi, D., Das, C. K., & Baniasadi, A. (2020). Modelling, design, and experimental validation of a grid-connected farmhouse comprising a photovoltaic and a pumped hydro storage system. Energy Conversion and Management, 210, Article 112675. DOI:10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112675 Link to article available here.

Mousavi, N., Kothapalli, G., Habibi, D., Khiadani, M., & Das, C. K. (2019). An improved mathematical model for a pumped hydro storage system considering electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic losses. Applied Energy, 247, 228-236. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.015 Link to article available here

Mousavi, N., Kothapalli, G., Habibi, D. & Das, C. K. (2019, April). Operational cost reduction of PV-PHS systems in farmhouses: Modelling, design, and experimental validation. Paper presented at the 2019 International Conference on Smart Power & Internet Energy Systems, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2019, vol. 322, no. 1: IOP Publishing, p. 012011. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/322/1/012011 Link to article available here.

Mousavi, N., Kothapalli, G., Habibi, D., Lachowicz, S. W., & Moghaddam, V. (2020). A real-time energy management strategy for pumped hydro storage systems in farmhouses. Journal of Energy Storage, 32, article 101928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2020.101928 Record available at https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/9409/

Access Note

Access to Chapter 6 of this thesis is not available.

Recommended Citation

Mousavi, N. (2020). The integration of pumped hydro storage systems into PV microgrids in rural areas. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2345