Title: Inclusion of biodiesel and PV modules in a wind diesel hybrid system supplying electrical loads on a small farm

Authors: Alexandre Beluco; Fernanda A. Ponticelli

Addresses: Instituto de Pesquisas Hidráulicas, Univ Fed do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Caixa Postal 15029, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil ' Programa de Pós Graduação em Educação em Ciência, Univ Fed do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua São Manoel, 2053, apto 405, 90620-110, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Abstract: The growing interest in biofuels is a consequence of the need to reduce operating costs of energy systems and the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The same applies to PV modules, comprising a solution environmentally desirable for power generation. This paper presents a study on the inclusion of biodiesel and PV modules in a system already in operation on a small farm in southern Brazil. The insertion of biodiesel in different blends with diesel reveals that the use of B100 results in a reduction of about 3% in emissions and a reduction of less than 10% in the final cost of energy. A direct comparison between pure diesel, biodiesel produced from waste agricultural industries poultry slaughtering and various blends indicates the use of B40 as the best choice. The inclusion of PV modules requires a cost reduction for at least 30% of the current value.

Keywords: biodiesel; PV modules; photovoltaics; wind diesel hybrid systems; feasibility study; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; Homer software; biofuels; wind energy; wind power; small farms; Brazil; agriculture; agricultural waste.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2014.063010

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2014 Vol.5 No.3, pp.229 - 250

Received: 18 Apr 2013
Accepted: 05 Nov 2013
Published online: 26 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article