Design for Hybrid Power System in Newfoundland and Labrador: A Case Study for Nain

With the introduction of renewable energy, we stand at the precipice where sustainable, long-term energy solutions are at the forefront of our efforts to secure a more environmentally responsible and enduring energy future. In this context, Nain, one of the largest indigenous settlements in Newfoundland and Labrador, has historically relied heavily on diesel generators to meet its energy demands. This research project is dedicated to addressing the energy challenges faced by Nain through actively examining and designing a hybrid power system tailored to its unique needs and geographic location. Leveraging advanced analytical software tools such as HOMER Pro, we aim to meticulously plan and design an energy system that seamlessly integrates renewable energy sources with conventional ones, optimizing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. The study’s key objective is to create a robust hybrid power system that not only meets Nain’s current energy demands but also lays the foundation for a more resilient and eco-friendly energy infrastructure for years to come. By harnessing renewable energy resources, we aspire to reduce the community’s reliance on diesel generators, minimize environmental impact, and promote a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape for Nain and its residents.

Introduction

Nain is the most northerly remaining settlement in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located in the Nunatsiavut area, about 370 km above Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Its origins trace back to 1771 when Jens Haven and a group of missionaries established it as a Moravian mission. In 2021, Nain was home to a population of 1,204 individuals, predominantly consisting of Inuit and individuals of mixed Inuit-European heritage [1]. Notably, Nain holds the esteemed position of being the administrative hub for the self-governing Nunatsiavut region. This remote settlement embodies its historical significance and plays a crucial role in contemporary governance within this autonomous region, highlighting its enduring importance in the cultural and administrative landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Following the Labrador Inuit community’s and the Canadian government’s adoption of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act, Nain was named the administrative capital of Nunatsiavut, an independent entity chosen by the Labrador Inuit, on December 1, 2005 [2]. Hopedale fulfills the role of the legislative capital. This agreement bestows upon the Nunatsiavut government limited self-governance, as well as rights related to land ownership and their indigenous heritage, in the northern regions of Labrador and northeastern Quebec. This territory, known as the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area (LISA), encompasses roughly 72,500 km². It’s important to note that the Labrador Inuit do not possess complete ownership of LISA but hold special rights linked to their traditional land use.

Furthermore, under this agreement, the Labrador Inuit are granted ownership of a specific portion totaling 15,000 km² within the Settlement Area, officially designated as Labrador Inuit Lands. Additionally, the agreement establishes the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, spanning about 9,600 km² within LISA, with a primary focus on environmental preservation and resource management.

In this study, we have employed renewable energy sources such as wind power to fulfill Nain energy requirements. We have harnessed the capabilities of HOMER Pro, a specialized software tool, to formulate the design of a hybrid power system. Within this hybrid system blueprint, we have integrated battery storage solutions to ensure a continuous power supply during adverse weather conditions when wind resources may not be as reliable.

Literature Review

Numerous academics have researched how renewable energy technologies are used in various nations. Most of them concentrated on the utilization of solar energy, wind turbines, batteries, planning, analysis, and assessment of various hybrid power systems in various configurations.

In the year 2019, Gebrehiwot assessed the viability of implementing a hybrid energy system to provide electricity to an isolated rural munity in Ethiopia. The results of this study suggest that the economically favorable option involves the integration of multiple energy sources, specifically a combination of solar panels, wind turbines, a battery storage system, and a diesel generator [3].

Alrikabi [4] presents an initial design and a feasibility assessment of a hybrid energy system intended for St. Brendan’s, Newfoundland. The optimization of this system was conducted using HOMER software. Their optimization analysis indicated that, given the genuine data on wind speed and load recorded annually, the most suitable configuration for St. Brendan’s involved the incorporation of two AOC15/50 wind turbines. Furthermore, their research demonstrated that a hybrid energy system consisting of a 300-kW diesel generator and two wind turbines may efficiently fulfill St. Brendan’s energy requirements while substantially reducing diesel fuel consumption.

In 2020, Khalil and fellow researchers devised a hybrid energy system for the Baluchistan Seashore intending to decrease the expenses incurred for grid utilization. This system effectively combines wind and solar components alongside converters. The outcomes of their study exhibited substantial cuts in operational expenditures, amounting to $66,405,000 per year, along with a remarkable reduction of 64% in pollutant gas emissions [5].

Methodology

This research employs a variety of engineering software tools to simulate and create the hybrid energy system. By leveraging location data from Google Maps and insights from geographical studies available on the NL government website, it has been ascertained that the most feasible methods for electricity generation involve the utilization of wind and solar systems. Established software applications such as HOMER Pro, Emex ESG & EHS Software, and Watch Wire are commonly utilized in the commercial sector for the design of hybrid energy systems. In this study, we have opted to utilize HOMER Pro.

HOMER Pro Design

Since the Nain community’s power consumption was not publicly available, the load profile was created by scaling the load profile of a comparable to the northern community that was accessible to the public and considering the number of homes in each community. According to the recent census data the estimated number of private households is 380. Hence, the anticipated electricity profile illustrated in Fig. 1 can be considered a reasonable estimate, considering all the relevant parameters related to the system components and the precise identification of the installation location in Nain. Within this context, HOMER Pro is responsible for searching for the most optimal solution while navigating through various limitations, such as solar irradiation and wind speed, especially on days with adverse weather conditions.

Fig. 1. HOMER pro electrical load profile.

Presented below are the optimization results derived from a comprehensive assessment of all available and viable options within this parameter space.

System Design

The system dimensioning process is carried out using HOMER Pro, which also handles the financial assessment of the hybrid system. HOMER Pro serves as an excellent sizing tool for a wide range of energy systems, benefiting from its extensive built-in database encompassing a variety of wind turbines and converters available in the market. Fig. 2 provides a schematic representation of HOMER Pro, illustrating the interconnection of various system components. Meanwhile, the existing diesel generators and the wind turbine are coupled to the AC busbar. To ensure compatibility, a converter is employed to convert DC power to the AC busbar.

Fig. 2. HOMER pro schematic of proposed system.

Fig. 2 depicts all the components of the system of HOMER Pro system. The combinations of the components were selected specifically for the project as it has specifications that suit the project’s requirements. The peak load of the community was estimated to be 1099.2 kW, where the D.G set consisting of 3 CAT-500 kV should be comparable to the preexisting system. The storage cell parallel string maintains voltage and sufficient energy to maintain itself in case of emergencies. Tables I to IV depict all component data.

Table I. HOMER Pro Wind Turbine Details

Properties	Cost
	Quantity	Capital($)	Replacement ($)	O&M ($/year)
Name: WES 30 [250 K]	1	550,000	500,000	40,000
Abbreviation: WES250
Rated capacity (kW): 250
Manufacturer: Wind energy solution

Table II. HOMER Pro Diesel Generator Details

Properties	Cost
	Fuel Price ($/L)	Capital ($)	Replacement ($)	O&M ($/year)
Name: Cat-500–60 Hz-PP	1.79	550,000	500,000	40,000
Capacity (kW): 500
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel curve intercept: 11.8 L/hr
Fuel curve slope: 0.242 L/hr/kW
Emissions
CO (g/L fuel): 042
Unburnt HC (g/L fuel): 0.03
Particulates (g/L fuel): 0.06
Fuel Sulfur to PM (%): 0
Nox (g/L fuel): 18.82

Table III. HOMER Pro Battery Storage Details

Properties	Cost
	Quantity	Capital ($)	Replacement ($)	O&M ($/year)
Kinetic battery model	1	600	500	50.00
Nominal voltage (V): 12
Nominal capacity (Ah): 219
Nominal capacity (kWh): 2.63
Capacity ratio: 0.0385
Rate constant(1/hr): 14.4
Roundtrip efficiency (%): 85
Maximum charge current (A): 41
Maximum discharge current (A): 41
Maximum charge rate (A/Ah): 1

Table IV. HOMER Pro Converter Details

Properties	Cost
	Quantity	Capital ($)	Replacement ($)	O&M ($/year)
Name: Eaton power Xpert 2000kW	1	6,000	4,500	100.00
Abbreviation: Eaton2000

The wind turbine selected is WES 30 [250 kW], it was selected for its ideal size for this operation, and it offers good redundancy management. If higher power systems were selected, the maintenance processes would have to rely on the D.G. and the renewable penetration would drop.

Table I is a cost and specification table for the WES 30 wind turbine, detailing capacity, manufacturer, and expenses. Table II displays a table with properties and cost details for a 500-kW diesel generator named CAT-500kW-60Hz-PP, including fuel consumption, emissions, initial capital, replacement cost, O&M, and fuel price. Table III is a specifications and cost summary for a kinetic battery storage system, highlighting a 12 V nominal voltage and 2.63 kWh capacity, with costs for capital, replacement, and O&M. Table IV shows a data table for the Eaton Power Xpert 2000 kW converter, with associated costs for capital, replacement, and operations & maintenance. It includes a note about its grid-following capability and battery voltage specifications.

HOMER Pro Results

Sizing Results

In Fig. 3, different combinations of feasible system patterns are tabulated with the number of components and the resulting parameters, such as the operating cost, LCOE, NPC, and capital. By carefully examining the different selections of component combinations and their resulting parameters, the optimally sized hybrid system sizing can be selected. Here Fig. 3 shows the selected arrangement for the hybrid system, and Table V displays the system architecture table.

Fig. 3. HOMER pro selected the system.

Table V. HOMPER Pro Selected System Architecture

Component	Name	Size	Unit
Generator #1	CAT-500KVA-50Hz-PP	400	kW
Generator #2	CAT-500KVA-50Hz-PP (1)	400	kW
Generator #3	CAT-500KVA-50Hz-PP (2)	400	kW
Storage	Trojan SAGM 12 205	400	Strings
Wind turbine	WES 30 [250kW]	36	ea.
System converter	CAT BDP250	612	kW
Dispatch strategy	HOMER load following

Cost Analysis

Energy system investments are critical decisions that organizations make to enhance their energy infrastructure, striving for cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability [6]. In this report, we evaluate the financial aspects of a specific energy system project.

From Table VI, we have the estimate for NPC, LCOE, Operating Cost and CAPEX.

Table VI. HOMER Pro System Cost Table

NPC ($)	LCOE ($/kWh)	Operating Cost ($/yr)	CAPEX ($)
26,500,000	0.332	1,420,000	8,070,000

Net Present Cost (NPC)

The Net Present Cost (NPC) represents the total cost of the energy system throughout its lifetime, incorporating both capital expenditures and operating costs while adjusting for the time value of money. For this project, the NPC is calculated at $26,500,000. NPC is a fundamental metric for assessing the overall financial viability of the project.

Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE)

The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) quantifies the average cost of electricity production over the project’s lifetime, expressed in dollars per kilowatt hour ($/kWh). In this instance, the LCOE for the energy system is $0.332 per kWh. LCOE is crucial for evaluating the competitiveness of the system’s electricity generation in comparison to other available sources.

Operating Costs

The energy system incurs annual operating costs totaling $1,420,000. These costs encompass various expenses, including maintenance, fuel, labor, and other ongoing expenditures essential for the system’s continuous operation. Prudent management of these costs is essential for the project’s long-term financial health.

Capital Expenditures (CAPEX)

Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) represent the initial investments made in constructing and establishing the energy system. For this project, the CAPEX amounts to $8,070,000. Effective allocation and utilization of these funds are imperative for the successful implementation of the project.

Fuel Summery

Presenting key quantitative data related to fuel consumption over a specified period indicates a total of 275,147 L of fuel was consumed, with an average daily consumption rate of 754 L/day, translating to an hourly fuel consumption rate of approximately 31.4 L/hour. These figures provide crucial insights into fuel usage patterns. They can serve as valuable data for various research and operational purposes, particularly in sectors reliant on fuel-dependent machinery and transportation.

Electrical Burden

Fig. 4 shows electricity production is distributed across various components, with CAT-500kVA-50Hz-PP contributing 8.06%, CAT-500kVA-50Hz-PP (1) contributing 2.93%, CAT-500kVA-50Hz-PP (2) contributing 0.367%, and the WES 30 [250 kW] accounting for the majority of 88.6%. These figures illustrate the production output of each component and their respective contributions to the total electricity generated, totaling 8,843,523 kWh per year.

Fig. 4. Electrical analysis—Homer pro.

Electricity consumption primarily comprises the AC Primary Load of 6,175,070 kWh annually. There is no reported consumption for DC Primary Load or Deferrable Load. The AC Primary Load accounts for all electricity consumption, highlighting its significance in the overall energy profile. This dataset is instrumental in assessing energy efficiency, load management, and opportunities for utilizing excess electricity or addressing capacity shortages. It provides a comprehensive snapshot of electricity dynamics, aiding informed energy optimization and sustainability decisions.

Conclusion

Our exhaustive investigation revolves around the design and feasibility of a customized hybrid power system tailored to fulfil the distinct energy specifications of Nain, a remote indigenous settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador. Driven by the global imperative for sustainable, environmentally responsible energy solutions, our study focuses on reducing Nain’s historical reliance on diesel generators. Leveraging advanced analytical tools, including HOMER Pro, we seamlessly integrate renewable sources like wind with conventional energy, optimizing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. Our research reveals the potential to significantly diminish diesel reliance, forging a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape for Nain’s residents. This study lays a robust foundation for the communities’ greener and more resilient energy future.