Modeling of Small-Scale Hybrid Biogas Renewable Energy Facility

Abstract In this study, a Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) biogas plant was designed to provide thermal energy input into an internal combustion engine. Additionally, a photovoltaic (PV) system was designed to supply energy for electric resistance heating in the biogas digester to maintain optimal temperatures for manure to decompose in. A MATHCAD based thermal model was built to predict the performance of the biogas plant. The methane gas weekly output by volume of 0. 372 cubic meters from the KVIC digester was used to fuel an ACME AM-1500BG 1KW Biogas Generator. This resulted in 1. 06 kWh energy output per week when storing biogas over the course of seven days and using the generator at the end of the seventh day. The total annual energy output of the KVIC plant was 55. 2 kWh. Thermo-economic modeling of the PV system used carried out using National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) System Advisor Model (SAM). The system nameplate capacity was calculated to be 6. 30 kW with an annual AC energy output of 11, 735 kWh, resulting in a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 11. 7¢/kWh and payback period of 9. 6 years. The initial investment of the system is 19, 261.