A techno-economic perspective on efficient hybrid renewable energy solutions in Douala, Cameroon's grid-connected systems.

Cameroon is currently grappling with a significant energy crisis, which is adversely affecting its economy due to cost, reliability, and availability constraints within the power infrastructure. While electrochemical storage presents a potential remedy, its implementation faces hurdles like high costs and technical limitations. Conversely, generator-based systems, although a viable alternative, bring their own set of issues such as noise pollution and demanding maintenance requirements. This paper meticulously assesses a novel hybrid energy system specifically engineered to meet the diverse energy needs of Douala, Cameroon. By employing advanced simulation techniques, especially the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) Pro program, the study carefully examines the intricacies of load demands across distinct consumer categories while accommodating varied pricing models. The paper offers a detailed analysis of the proposed grid-connected PV/Diesel/Generator system, aiming to gauge its performance, economic feasibility, and reliability in ensuring uninterrupted energy supply. Notably, the study unveils significant potential for cost reduction per kilowatt-hour, indicating promising updated rates of $0.07/kW, $0.08/kW, and $0.06/kW for low, medium, and high usage groups, respectively. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of overcoming operational challenges and constraints such as temperature fluctuations, equipment costs, and regulatory compliance. It also acknowledges the impact of operational nuances like maintenance and grid integration on system efficiency. As the world progresses towards renewable energy adoption and hybrid systems, this investigation lays a strong foundation for future advancements in renewable energy integration and energy management strategies. It strives to create a sustainable energy ecosystem in Cameroon and beyond, where hybrid energy systems play a pivotal role in mitigating power deficiencies and supporting sustainable development.

Enhanced control strategy for photovoltaic emulator operating in continuously changing environmental conditions based on shift methodology.

This article investigates an inventive methodology for precisely and efficiently controlling photovoltaic emulating (PVE) prototypes, which are employed in the assessment of solar systems. A modification to the Shift controller (SC), which is regarded as a leading PVE controller, is proposed. In addition to efficiency and accuracy, the novel controller places a high emphasis on improving transient performance. The novel piecewise linear-logarithmic adaptation utilized by the Modified-Shift controller (M-SC) enables the controller to linearly adapt to the load burden within a specified operating range. At reduced load resistances, the transient sped of the PVE can be increased through the implementation of this scheme. An exceedingly short settling time of the PVE is ensured by a logarithmic modification of the control action beyond the critical point. In order to analyze the M-SC in the context of PVE control, numerical investigations implemented in MATLAB/Simulink (Version: Simulink 10.4, URL: https://in.mathworks.com/products/simulink.html ) were utilized. To assess the effectiveness of the suggested PVE, three benchmarking profiles are presented: eight scenarios involving irradiance/PVE load, continuously varying irradiance/temperature, and rapidly changing loads. These profiles include metrics such as settling time, efficiency, Integral of Absolute Error (IAE), and percentage error (epve). As suggested, the M-SC attains an approximate twofold increase in speed over the conventional SC, according to the findings. This is substantiated by an efficiency increase of 2.2%, an expeditiousness enhancement of 5.65%, and an IAE rise of 5.65%. Based on the results of this research, the new M-SC enables the PVE to experience perpetual dynamic operation enhancement, making it highly suitable for evaluating solar systems in ever-changing environments.

Robust load-frequency control of islanded urban microgrid using 1PD-3DOF-PID controller including mobile EV energy storage.

Electricity generation in Islanded Urban Microgrids (IUMG) now relies heavily on a diverse range of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). However, the dependable utilization of these sources hinges upon efficient Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESs). As the intermittent nature of RES output and the low inertia of IUMGs often lead to significant frequency fluctuations, the role of EESs becomes pivotal. While these storage systems effectively mitigate frequency deviations, their high costs and elevated power density requirements necessitate alternative strategies to balance power supply and demand. In recent years, substantial attention has turned towards harnessing Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries as Mobile EV Energy Storage (MEVES) units to counteract frequency variations in IUMGs. Integrating MEVES into the IUMG infrastructure introduces complexity and demands a robust control mechanism for optimal operation. Therefore, this paper introduces a robust, high-order degree of freedom cascade controller known as the 1PD-3DOF-PID (1 + Proportional + Derivative-Three Degrees Of Freedom Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller for Load Frequency Control (LFC) in IUMGs integrated with MEVES. The controller's parameters are meticulously optimized using the Coati Optimization Algorithm (COA) which mimics coati behavior in nature, marking its debut in LFC of IUMG applications. Comparative evaluations against classical controllers and algorithms, such as 3DOF-PID, PID, Reptile Search Algorithm, and White Shark Optimizer, are conducted under diverse IUMG operating scenarios. The testbed comprises various renewable energy sources, including wind turbines, photovoltaics, Diesel Engine Generators (DEGs), Fuel Cells (FCs), and both Mobile and Fixed energy storage units. Managing power balance in this entirely renewable environment presents a formidable challenge, prompting an examination of the influence of MEVES, DEG, and FC as controllable units to mitigate active power imbalances. Metaheuristic algorithms in MATLAB-SIMULINK platforms are employed to identify the controller's gains across all case studies, ensuring the maintenance of IUMG system frequency within predefined limits. Simulation results convincingly establish the superiority of the proposed controller over other counterparts. Furthermore, the controller's robustness is rigorously tested under ± 25% variations in specific IUMG parameters, affirming its resilience. Statistical analyses reinforce the robust performance of the COA-based 1PD-3DOF-PID control method. This work highlights the potential of the COA Technique-optimized 1PD-3DOF-PID controller for IUMG control, marking its debut application in the LFC domain for IUMGs. This comprehensive study contributes valuable insights into enhancing the reliability and stability of Islanded Urban Microgrids while integrating Mobile EV Energy Storage, marking a significant advancement in the field of Load-Frequency Control.

Enhancing grid resiliency in distributed energy systems through a comprehensive review and comparative analysis of islanding detection methods.

Reduction of fossil fuel usage, clean energy supply, and dependability are all major benefits of integrating distributed energy resources (DER) with electrical utility grid (UG). Nevertheless, there are difficulties with this integration, most notably accidental islanding that puts worker and equipment safety at risk. Islanding detection methods (IDMs) play a critical role in resolving this problem. All IDMs are thoroughly evaluated in this work, which divides them into two categories: local approaches that rely on distributed generation (DG) side monitoring and remote approaches that make use of communication infrastructure. The study offers a comparative evaluation to help choose the most efficient and applicable IDM, supporting well-informed decision-making for the safe and dependable operation of distributed energy systems within electrical distribution networks. IDMs are evaluated based on NDZ outcomes, detection duration, power quality impact, multi-DG operation, suitability, X/R ratio reliance, and efficient functioning.

Hybrid genetic algorithm-simulated annealing based electric vehicle charging station placement for optimizing distribution network resilience.

Rapid placement of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) is essential for the transportation industry in response to the growing electric vehicle (EV) fleet. The widespread usage of EVs is an essential strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional vehicles. The focus of this study is the challenge of smoothly integrating Plug-in EV Charging Stations (PEVCS) into distribution networks, especially when distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems are involved. A hybrid Genetic Algorithm and Simulated Annealing method (GA-SAA) are used in the research to strategically find the optimal locations for PEVCS in order to overcome this integration difficulty. This paper investigates PV system situations, presenting the problem as a multicriteria task with two primary objectives: reducing power losses and maintaining acceptable voltage levels. By optimizing the placement of EVCS and balancing their integration with distributed generation, this approach enhances the sustainability and reliability of distribution networks.

Sustainable power management in light electric vehicles with hybrid energy storage and machine learning control.

This paper presents a cutting-edge Sustainable Power Management System for Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) using a Hybrid Energy Storage Solution (HESS) integrated with Machine Learning (ML)-enhanced control. The system's central feature is its ability to harness renewable energy sources, such as Photovoltaic (PV) panels and supercapacitors, which overcome traditional battery-dependent constraints. The proposed control algorithm orchestrates power sharing among the battery, supercapacitor, and PV sources, optimizing the utilization of available renewable energy and ensuring stringent voltage regulation of the DC bus. Notably, the ML-based control ensures precise torque and speed regulation, resulting in significantly reduced torque ripple and transient response times. In practical terms, the system maintains the DC bus voltage within a mere 2.7% deviation from the nominal value under various operating conditions, a substantial improvement over existing systems. Furthermore, the supercapacitor excels at managing rapid variations in load power, while the battery adjusts smoothly to meet the demands. Simulation results confirm the system's robust performance. The HESS effectively maintains voltage stability, even under the most challenging conditions. Additionally, its torque response is exceptionally robust, with negligible steady-state torque ripple and fast transient response times. The system also handles speed reversal commands efficiently, a vital feature for real-world applications. By showcasing these capabilities, the paper lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and efficient future for LEVs, suggesting pathways for scalable and advanced electric mobility solutions.

New coordinated drive mode switching strategy for distributed drive electric vehicles with energy storage system.

High performance and comfort are key features recommended in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) design. In this paper, a new coordination strategy is proposed to solve the issue of undesired torque jerks and large power ripples noticed respectively during drive mode commutations and power sources switching. The proposed coordinated switching strategy uses stair-based transition function to perform drive mode commutations and power source switching's within defined transition periods fitting the transient dynamics of power sources and traction machines. The proposed technique is applied on a battery/ supercapacitor electric vehicle whose traction is ensured by two permanent magnet synchronous machines controlled using direct torque control and linked to HEV front and rear wheels. Simulation results highlight that the proposed coordinated switching strategy has a noteworthy positive impact on enhancing HEV transient performance as DC bus fluctuations were reduced to a narrow band of 6 V and transient torque ripples were almost suppressed.