Levelized Cost of Energy Optimization in Hybrid PV Plants by Energy Storage for Ramp-Rate Control Operation

Abstract

This paper seeks to optimize the levelized cost of energy of a hybrid PV plant considering the integration of an electrical energy storage system to reduce the costs associated with ramp control penalization. The optimization is performed using a real annual profile from a PV plant. Three different minute-to-minute generation profiles based on historical irradiance data are used for the comparison: the time series model, the Hofmann minute model and the Skartveit and Olseth minute model. It is found that the results from the models can predict similar results to the ones obtained from the real profile, thus being a valuable tool for determining the energy storage size for hybrid PV plants during the planning stage.