Technical and economic analysis and evaluation of the efficiency of the creation of an agrovoltaic installation on the basis of an existing photovoltaic power plant
Students Name: Dutko Andrii Romanovych
Qualification Level: master (ESP)
Speciality: Electrical Energetics, Electrical Engineering and Electromechanics
Institute: Institute of Power Engineering and Control Systems
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2022-2023 н.р.
Language of Defence: англійська
Abstract: One of the main problems today is the depletion of non-renewable energy sources, so the countries of the world are trying to increase the share of green energy in their energy sector. Solar power plants have become the most popular means for this. Ukraine keeps up with world energy trends and implements and widely uses SPP. A striking example of solar power plants operating in Ukraine is the Hlyniany-2 SPP with an installed capacity of 18.26 MW, which is located in the western part of the country. The research of the existing SPP began with the analysis of the operating conditions, during which the limitation of electricity generation due to its excess in the power system was revealed. Such restrictions are mainly inherent in the summer season of operation of the electric network. The next step was the simulation of a fragment of this electrical network in the software complex and the study of normal and emergency modes of network operation. As a result of the conducted experiments, regime restrictions were revealed both under the normal state of the power grid and under individual emergency or repair schemes. Consequently, these limitations listed above lead to underproduction of electricity and a decrease in the efficiency of using the installed capacity of the SPP. To prevent numerical limitations of electricity generation, it is necessary to consider possible ways of increasing energy consumption for the power plant’s own needs. One of the options for the implementation of such an approach may be the introduction of an agrophotovoltaic system, which will allow the use of the area under already installed solar panels for the cultivation of agricultural crops with the construction of an irrigation system for watering them. This will allow more efficient use of land resources, increase the yield of agricultural crops that can be planted on the territory of the photovoltaic power plant, and eliminate restrictions on the delivery of generated power to the power grid through its direct consumption at the site of the SPP. Study object – an agrophotovoltaic system, which will be built on the basis of the existing solar power plant "Hlyniany-2". Scope of research – the established normal and emergency operational modes of the investigated part of the electrical network, the technical and economic justification of the effectiveness of creating an agrophotovoltaic system based on an operating SPP. Goal of research – to establish the effectiveness of creating an agrophotovoltaic system based on one of the operating solar power plants of Ukraine. This will make it possible to increase the efficiency of the operation of renewable sources of electricity compatible with the rational use of land resources, which will positively affect the level of agriculture. To achieve the goal, the following tasks must be solved: - to perform an analysis of the functioning of the operating SPP "Hlyniany-2" as part of the electric power system of Ukraine; - to investigate the modes of operation of the section of the electrical network from the Hlyniany-2 SPP and establish the feasibility of creating an agrophotovoltaic system on its basis; - choose an agricultural crop to be grown on the territory of the existing SPP and perform a technical and economic analysis of the effectiveness of creating such an agrophotovoltaic system. Taking into account the weather conditions, the Cumulius F1 hybrid asparagus was chosen for planting on the SES territory. Cumulus F1 is suggested to be planted in the area under the panels, but on the condition that the height from the ground to the solar panel will be at least 1 m for the convenience of growing and processing the plants. To get a high-quality harvest, it is necessary to provide asparagus with a sufficient amount of moisture and fertilizers - fertigation. Fertigation yields are much higher, and the cost per unit of production is lower. Fertigation increases the asparagus yield by 10-30%. The best way to solve this problem is drip irrigation. It is proposed to use a 3GPE EVMSG10/3.0 type pumping station with three pumps to organize the irrigation of the asparagus plantation. The total installed capacity of all irrigation system stations will be 45 kW. The annual electricity consumption for such an irrigation system will be 2115 kWh. In order to carry out a technical and economic analysis of the project of the studied agrophotovoltaic system, the Ukrainian agricultural market was studied and the average prices of the main materials, devices and works necessary for the creation of this system were determined. For results. technical and economic analysis of the project of an agrophotovoltaic system based on the existing power plant shows that increasing the yield due to the installation of irrigation, such systems are more effective, and the payback period will be approximately 3 years. The profit during the first 5 years of operation of the APV system will be €248,181,532, assuming a 20% yield increase. If, thanks to irrigation, the yield increases by 10 or 30%, the payback period will remain the same, but the profit for the 5th year of operation of the system will be €215,624 and €279,409, respectively. Possible ways of improving the system and increasing its efficiency are also analyzed. The first of the investigated options provided for the installation of phytolamps in the agrophotovoltaic system, which could increase the yield by 10-30%. After calculating the number of lamps to be installed and the amount of electricity these lamps will consume, a conclusion was made about the low efficiency of such a solution. The second option involved the installation of transparent solar panels instead of those currently in operation at solar power plants. Calculations showed that such a solution is inefficient in terms of the amount of generated electrical energy, which will significantly decrease due to the change in the efficiency of the new solar panels. The last option was to raise the solar modules above ground level, but this would create completely different conditions for growing plants, so this solution needs a lot of new research.