Effect of Electric Load Management on the Performance of Off-Grid Solar Power Systems: A case study of 27 kWp Off-Grid System at UCAS Khanyounis Branch

Abstract

Load management strategies can be an attractive solution for the supply of consumers suffering from scheduled power outages or the provision of enhanced energy independence; i.e. exploitation of solar power. This study presents the dynamic behavior of a case study system – southern branch of the University College of Applied Sciences; UCAS Khanyounis branch – under three different loading scenarios – early, current and proposed scenarios, thus independently and economically supplying electrical load demand by the one that depending on load shifting/clipping strategies as parts of load management. Public utility supplies plus the energy of an off-grid solar power system are used to cover the loads; especially the essential ones. To analyze the feasibility and applicability of the above-mentioned load scenario, it was compared to another two scenarios; the former containing public utility and Diesel engine generator while the later integrating an off-grid solar power system beside the existing two sources of supply; respectively, for one year. The electrical load shape of the case study system had been recorded in sixty minutes resolution. The simulation results prove that load management strategy connected with moderate loading levels is considerably feasible.