Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis of Flywheel Hybridization in Energy Storage System Coupled with a Microgrid

Abstract

This project deals with the technical and economic feasibility analysis of a hybrid microgrid based on integrating electrochemical batteries and a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) for a garments factory (Ananta Denim Technology Ltd). A comparison among three hybrid microgrid systems based on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) generation along with DG generation is presented in this work. The first microgrid system consists of PV solar panels, a Diesel Generator (DG), a converter, and an electrochemical battery as an Energy Storage System (ESS). By improving the first microgrid using flywheel as ESS, the second system is constructed for obtaining a better lifetime. However, the third hybrid microgrid system presents the combination of 1st and 2nd systems leading to an innovative hybridization of electrochemical battery and flywheel as ESS by considering optimal configuration. Operational characteristics of the new storage systems were estimated and used in the simulations, while the financial aspects of the projects were finalized using hand-made calculations, and the HOMER software was used for the energy calculations and environmental effects for all three systems. Moreover, both the three systems are compared in terms of Total Net Present Cost (TNPC), Cost of Energy (COE), carbon dioxide emissions, and fuel diesel consumption. The simulation proves that the third hybrid microgrid system with hybridized ESS system has less TNPC, COE, and fuel consumption as well as emits much less CO2 than other the two systems.