Feasibility Study of Renewable Energy Based Microgrid Hybrid System in Berbera Somaliland

This project involves the feasibility study of renewable energies like solar and wind for designing a microgrid hybrid system in Berbera Somaliland. The aim is to provide automation for distributed electrical system and reduce COE and emission. The project was completed by proposing a compact design for the hybrid renewable energy system for Berbera Somaliland with the help of HOMER software. The project team consisted of an assistant project leader and other team members. The project duration is not mentioned.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Feasibility Study of Renewable Energy Based Microgrid
Hybrid System in Berbera Somaliland
Location of the project: University Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: University Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia
Role and Designation during the time: Assistant Project Leader
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
In this project, my aim was to provide automation for distributed electrical system.
The dissimilar types of conventional or non conventional energy sources are required for
electricity generation. The field of solar or wind energy systems has faced a rapid growth for
the use of HRES or hybrid renewable energy system. In this project, I undertook the
feasibility study of the renewable energies like solar and wind for designing a microgrid
hybrid system in Berbera Somaliland. The electric power in Berbera is usually generated after
importing diesel. However, there is an extreme fluctuation in price for the clients and the
users were facing major issues. I have done optimization of hybrid systems after involving
photovoltaic and wind as the major energy sources. I combined these hybrid systems with
battery and diesel. The capacities of my hybrid microgrid were 1000 KW of PV, 1000 KW of
wind turbine, 2 MW of converter, 1800 KW of diesel generators and 132 units of battery
capacity of 1900 AH. I have used HOMER software for optimizing this diesel based system.
Hence, in the project, I have successfully developed the compact and complete design of

renewable energy based microgrid system and then compared the existing diesel system with
my proposed hybrid renewable microgrid system after a feasibility study.
CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
During the project of Renewable Energy Based Microgrid Hybrid system for Berbera,
the entire designing part required higher constants that can easily increase the effectiveness
and operation. I have even found out that HOMER software would be the best software for
this hybrid system. The design of microgrid or distributed generation power system is better
with this software. In this project my objective was to develop a compact design for
providing better optimization results to the hybrid system. Therefore, for completing this
project with higher efficiency as well as priority, I have successfully developed the following
objectives:
 To review and analyze several methods of renewable energy systems that can provide
efficiency.
 To propose an appropriate design for the hybrid-renewable energy system or HRES
for Berbera, Somaliland.
 To use HOMER software for making the design of HRES.
 To check the different forms of outputs in previous researches.
 To review the output and check with the desired outcome.
 To design renewable energy based microgrid system that has lower COE and
emission than the existing diesel system.
 To compare the previously existing diesel system with my proposed hybrid renewable
microgrid system by conducting a techno economic feasibility assessment.

CE 1.2.3 My area of work
Since, during the project work, I did not have enough experience in field work, I was
appointed as the assistant project leader. I started the practical part of the project only after
studying and reviewing the past studies and the feasibility studies based on diesel system and
renewable energy system to evaluate the major features. My major area of work was simply
to propose a compact design for this system. As I had team leadership skills, I even guided
my fellow team members. My other important areas of work were to participate within the
usage as well as advancement of the complete computerized and digitalized management
system. In this entire project work, I also formulated the proper framework on the basis of all
works so that I can achieve the determined goals and objectives. I compared the existing
diesel system with my proposed hybrid renewable microgrid system. I used HOMER
software for optimization of the diesel based system and then studied the COE and emission
of that system. I was appointed in the project as an assistant project leader for assisting my
project leader.
CE 1.2.4 Project Group

Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
As an assistant project leader, I had the responsibilities to assist my team leader and to
resolve every type of conflict that was faced in this project. I had the key responsibility to
propose a compact design for the hybrid renewable energy system for Berbera Somaliland
with the help of HOMER software. As an electronics engineer, I had to design the renewable
energy based microgrid system for comparing with the previously existing diesel system of
Berbera. I ensured that my proposed design has lower COE and emission than the existing
diesel system. Since, I was guiding my team members, I had to check each and every output
and compare them with my desired outcome. As I had selected the renewable energies of
wind and photovoltaic, I compared the design parameters while executing this project. For
PV modelling, in the beginning, I calculated the model parameters. I noted that the current
has maximum value of the current EMP point at this stage and voltage, VMP.
Figure 2: The simple node Voltage-current curve of PV panel

For wind energy modeling, I selected wind speed distribution and height of tower for
obtaining proper output of the wind turbine. I even took regular follow ups and provided the
same to my team leader for fault detection.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
In this project, I chose two extremely effective and common renewable energies of
wind and photovoltaic. The standalone hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) was
designed for fulfilling the basic needs of Berbera Somaliland. I did photovoltaic and wind
modelling for obtaining the desired outputs. For wind speed distribution, I used Weibull
distribution function procedure. For the height of tower, I used Hellmann exponential law and
logarithmic profile for estimating accurate wind shear.
v2
v1
= ( h2
h1 ) α
where, v2 is the real speed at the wind turbine height (h2) and v1 is the speediness at
the reference height (h1).
The performance of wind turbine was estimated on the basis of power curve.

Figure 3: Power curve for wind turbine
For battery modeling, I have used lead acid batteries in the range of 5 V to 24 V DC.
The capacity of these batteries is from 10Ah up to 1000Ah. I noted that the optimum range of
operation for the diesel generators is within 70% as well as 89% of the rated power.
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
To complete this project, I had used the theoretical knowledge of renewable energy
hybrid systems. I have perfectly applied my knowledge of HOMER software for simulating
the optimization. In the concept of methodology, I have used my knowledge of power
consumption and voltage calculation for completing the PV and wind modelling. Moreover, I
have strong proficiency in mathematics and physics, hence was successful to calculate the
NPC and COE.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
I had used DC/AC converter in the chosen frequency of load. The significant
efficiency of this specific inverter was given by equations.
ηinv = Ρ
Ρ+ pΟ+ ΚΡ2

ΡΟ=1−99 ( 10
η10
− 1
η100
−9 )
2
k = 1
η100
−ΡΟ−1
p= pout
Ρin
where, 10 and 100 were provided and the efficiency of my inverter at 10% as well
as 100% of the nominal power.
Figure 4: Block diagram of hybrid system
I have used HOMER software for synthesizing the hourly solar radiation data for a
whole year. I gave monthly average readings of the wind speed, which were needed for
simulation. I calculated the COE per kilowatt hour ($/kWh) of useful electrical energy
produced by the system.

COE= Cann, tot
E prim , Ac+ Eprim , DC
where, Cann,tot is the total annualized cost ($/year), Eprim,AC is the AC primary load
served (kWh/year) and Eprim,DC is the DC primary load served (kWh/year).
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
The first issue that I had faced was while calculating the average AC energy
consumption. The load was 644kW/h and the peak was 854kW/h. I had the idea that most of
the cities in the world have peak during day, since the work is done mostly at day time.
However, in Berbera, the scenario was different. The peak was during night time. The second
issue that I faced here was while evaluating the capacity of the microgrid. Since, the capacity
of diesel generators were 1800 KW, I had to select high capacity of PV and wind turbine.
Moreover, since I did not have experience of using HOMER software, I was facing major
trouble due to this.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
I took the readings of 24 hours for Berbera peak and hence was able to understand the
correct time for such evaluation.
Day/hours Load (kW/h)
7am 518
8am 523
9am 556
10am 580
11am 586
12pm 590
1pm 588
2pm 614
3pm 624

4pm 564
5pm 572
6pm 636
7pm 826
8pm 814
9pm 854
10pm 834
11pm 783
12am 723
1am 678
2am 641
3am 635
4am 607
5am 619
6am 627
Table 1: Load profile of Berbera
For the second issue, I selected the capacities of 1000 KW for PV and wind and
regarding HOMER software, I took help from my supervisor and watched tutorials and
videos.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
My plan was simply to produce the most creative and innovative work by perfectly
dividing our work. This kind of effective and efficient plan helped me in knowing and
identifying our errors and flaws and thus I was successful to remove each and every problem
within this particular project.
CE 1.3.6 Collaborative Work
I made sure that each and every team member is executing their duties or
responsibilities effectively and efficiently. I even arranged for regular meetings in our project
schedule to identify the loopholes. Moreover, this project was completed with the
collaborative work of our project team members.

CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
The entire project result helped me in designing a system that has the core capability
to apply microgrid hybrid system in Berbera. I designed this hybrid system by combining PV
and wind energies with the purpose of reducing the COE and emission. I had used HOMER
software for optimizing the diesel based system.
CE 1.4.2 My Contribution to work
I was appointed as the assistant project leader in this project. I had assisted my project
leader and made the compact design of microgrid hybrid system with HOMER software. I
also took up the research part and then documented the entire project report.