Exploring microgrid design and optimization using Homer Pro in Singapore

Abstract

Climate change is becoming such a big issue with the melting of icebergs, rise in sea level, and many other catastrophic environments related event going on due to the increase in carbon emission. One of the major contributors to carbon emission is power generation. Efforts have been made to help reduce carbon emission by increasing the usage of renewable energy to generate power. By using renewables, it is much cleaner compared to traditional power plant. However, to implement the use of renewable energy requires much planning and research to find the optimal system design for a certain location.

The purpose of this Final Year Project is to find out the optimal microgrid design by using a simulation software called Homer Pro. Homer Pro designs both off grid and grid-connected microgrid. Its optimization algorithms will produce a large number of possible system design according to the input parameters entered.

There will be a total of four case studies which explores the optimal system design of microgrid found across different parts of Singapore. The results generated from Homer Pro will be analysed and discussed according to its economic and technical parameters. Sensitivity analysis will also be included to find out which input variables are important and the impact it has on the simulated results.