Abstract

The reported work was motivated by the energy needs in the Mauritania region and the utility of the search features of a software system, named HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources), for feasibility analysis of a hybrid power generation system (HS) for the Mauritanian northern coast. This study analyzed a sample of the available wind resources to meet the energy needs of these localities, using the HOMER software with the aim to search for the best possible configuration. A configuration was sought through this work which is considered with less intermittence in the system. In addition, given the relationship noted in the study between the influence of the average wind speed and the price of diesel in liters, it was also suggested to highlight configurations that exclude storage or that may decrease the size of the fuel. This, as a supplementary feature, also allowed, for example, to justify the additional cost generated by the insertion of the diesel group. In this context, five (5) values are given for the study of the price sensitivity of the liter of diesel; these values are proposed as follows: 1.05 $/L (current), 1.08, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.5 $/L (Maximum price). In another way, to carry out the sensitivity analysis through simulations that take into account the average wind speed, the values retained (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 m/s (maximum speed)) to deepen the study of the behavior of configurations by HOMER software. Finally, we must remember the number of kilowatt-hours produced that may seem insignificant to the country's energy production capacity, but these few tens or hundreds of kilowatt-hours can revive all the hope of the localities of the Mauritanian northern coast. In short, we report here some interesting findings as a result of the search carried out of resources using the HOMER system.

Key words: HOMER software, hybrid system, wind, kilowatt-hours (kWh) price, sensitivity analysis.