Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables
Mountain huts are stand-alone micro-grid systems that are not connected to a power grid. However, they impact the environment by generating electricity and through day-to-day operations. The installed generator needs to be flexible to cover fluctuations in the energy demand. Replacing fossil fuels w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/202 |
| _version_ | 1797499157331574784 |
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| author | Mitja Mori Manuel Gutiérrez Mihael Sekavčnik Boštjan Drobnič |
| author_facet | Mitja Mori Manuel Gutiérrez Mihael Sekavčnik Boštjan Drobnič |
| author_sort | Mitja Mori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mountain huts are stand-alone micro-grid systems that are not connected to a power grid. However, they impact the environment by generating electricity and through day-to-day operations. The installed generator needs to be flexible to cover fluctuations in the energy demand. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources presents a challenge when it comes to balancing electricity generation and consumption. This paper presents an integration-and-optimization process for renewable energy sources in a mountain hut’s electricity generation system combined with a lifecycle assessment. A custom computational model was developed, validated with experimental data and integrated into a TRNSYS model. Five different electricity generation topologies were modelled to find the best configuration that matches the dynamics and meets the cumulative electricity demand. A lifecycle assessment methodology was used to evaluate the environmental impacts of all the topologies for one typical operating year. The carbon footprint could be reduced by 34% in the case of the actually implemented system upgrade, and by up to 47% in the case of 100% renewable electricity generation. An investment cost analysis shows that improving the battery charging strategy has a minor effect on the payback time, but it can significantly reduce the environmental impacts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:43:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-642988d7136e45448b87bb1cd36d1338 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:43:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-642988d7136e45448b87bb1cd36d13382023-11-23T11:27:04ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-12-0115120210.3390/en15010202Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using RenewablesMitja Mori0Manuel Gutiérrez1Mihael Sekavčnik2Boštjan Drobnič3Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFundación para el Desarrollo de las Nuevas Tecnologías del Hidrógeno en Aragón, Parque Tecnológico Walqa Ctra. N-330a, km. 566, 22197 Huesca, SpainFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMountain huts are stand-alone micro-grid systems that are not connected to a power grid. However, they impact the environment by generating electricity and through day-to-day operations. The installed generator needs to be flexible to cover fluctuations in the energy demand. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources presents a challenge when it comes to balancing electricity generation and consumption. This paper presents an integration-and-optimization process for renewable energy sources in a mountain hut’s electricity generation system combined with a lifecycle assessment. A custom computational model was developed, validated with experimental data and integrated into a TRNSYS model. Five different electricity generation topologies were modelled to find the best configuration that matches the dynamics and meets the cumulative electricity demand. A lifecycle assessment methodology was used to evaluate the environmental impacts of all the topologies for one typical operating year. The carbon footprint could be reduced by 34% in the case of the actually implemented system upgrade, and by up to 47% in the case of 100% renewable electricity generation. An investment cost analysis shows that improving the battery charging strategy has a minor effect on the payback time, but it can significantly reduce the environmental impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/202mountain hutmicro-gridrenewable energy sourcescomputational modellingexperimentlifecycle assessment |
| spellingShingle | Mitja Mori Manuel Gutiérrez Mihael Sekavčnik Boštjan Drobnič Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables Energies mountain hut micro-grid renewable energy sources computational modelling experiment lifecycle assessment |
| title | Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables |
| title_full | Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables |
| title_fullStr | Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables |
| title_short | Modelling and Environmental Assessment of a Stand-Alone Micro-Grid System in a Mountain Hut Using Renewables |
| title_sort | modelling and environmental assessment of a stand alone micro grid system in a mountain hut using renewables |
| topic | mountain hut micro-grid renewable energy sources computational modelling experiment lifecycle assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/202 |
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