Sizing approaches for solar photovoltaic-based microgrids: A comprehensive review

Abstract

In the design procedure of a PV-based microgrid, optimal sizing of its components plays a significant role, as it ensures optimum utilization of the available solar energy and associated storage devices. This in turn ensures efficient and economic operation of the microgrid. Various approaches have been reported in the literature in order to approach the sizing problem in PV-based microgrids. However, the existing approaches are subjective to the requirements of the microgrid and there is no unique framework for approaching the microgrid sizing problem. In this study, a comprehensive review of the existing approaches used for sizing of PV-based microgrids with a summary of the commonly adopted design considerations has been presented. Also, the optimization problem, including the usually considered designed objectives and constraints, for PV-based microgrid sizing have been thoroughly reviewed in this study. Furthermore, the adopted approaches for solving the optimization problem associated with the sizing of a PV-based microgrid system available in the literature have been reviewed comprehensively. With a view to present a generic framework for the optimal sizing of a PV-based microgrid, this study further presents a framework based on the comprehensive review of the existing literature. The developed framework will be useful for both the practising engineers and academics to understand and apply the usual practices for optimal sizing of PV-based microgrids.