Abstract
•Viability of a HRES designed to meet the electric demand in Moroccan residential buildings.•New design based on the synergic interaction between building simulation and HRES optimization.•Hybridization of SDS and WT technologies including the power-to-hydrogen is studied.•Optimal design configuration was determined for each studied locations.
In this work, an Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) based on microgrid power is proposed and optimized to meet the electric demand of a sustainable multi-family buildings with possible generation of clean hydrogen. Hourly building simulation is carried out based on meteorological data to predict the year-round electrical consumption of the designed buildings. The proposed hybrid system includes a Solar Dish Stirling (SDS) technology combined with a Wind Turbine (WT) for power generation, an electrolyzer, a hydrogen storage tank, as well as a battery bank. The novelty of the study resides in the replacement of conventional hybrid systems, such as a photovoltaic PV/WT assembly, with an SDS/WT system that has the potential to reach higher efficiencies and economic competitiveness. An optimization process is investigated to evidence the optimum HRES design based on the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC). Sensitivity studies are performed to illustrate the effect of main functioning parameters and how they impact the overall project viability. Moreover, the performance of the model is evaluated in two selected sites in Morocco, namely Ouarzazate and Dakhla, and a comprehensive techno-economic study of the integrated system is investigated. The findings indicate that the HRES design and configuration are site-dependent due to discrepancies in wind and solar energy potential of the examined sites. The optimum architecture of the assessed HRES in Dakhla greatly promote the implementation of WT technology with a NPC/ LCOE of about 3.053 M€/0.0697 €/kWh, respectively. In Ouarzazate, it was found that the optimum design configuration relies exclusively on the SDS technology and correspond to NPC/ LCOE of 3.391 M€/ 0.126 €/kWh, respectively. LCOH values obtained by the optimum HRES configuration were determined 21.4 €/kg and 23.6 €/kg for Dakhla and Ouarzazate, respectively. This study demonstrates the viability of SDS implementation in future HRESs and open the perspectives for its role in carbon–neutral buildings.