Software Tools for Analyzing the Integration of Various Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract

Renewable energy sources are being utilized for supplying the electrical energy in remote rural areas, where grid extension is difficult. It also offers certain advantages like clean and green energy, pollution free environment, no greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, the integration of various energy sources may serves as an alternative for meeting the energy demand. A hybrid energy system is one which utilizes more than one energy sources in combination. While integrating the various energy sources, it is quite difficult to integrate them; hence a proper design is required to analyze the techno-economical aspects of integrated renewable energy systems. A number of software tools were available for analyzing the integration of renewable energy systems to design, evaluating their performance, determining the optimal design, economic viability of the various energy systems. This paper addresses about the various software tools available for analyzing the integration of various renewable energy sources with the grid. The main objective of this paper is to provide the information/insight to a researcher as well as for energy planners regarding the selection of energy sources for the development of integrated renewable energy systems.