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Sensitivity Analysis
The aim of the sensitivity analysis was to determine the maximum size of increment to allow accurate sizing of a hybrid renewable energy system without excessive options. Obviously there are limitations to the size of wind turbines available, this again drives away from the smaller increments such as 2 and 5%.
A study of the effect of varying the increment size on the output of the optimal sizing of the hybrid system was carried out. Increment sizes of 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 15%, 18% and 20% were tested for a generic hybrid community renewable system scenario. The actual scenario is of lesser importance as it is the effect on the output, not the actual output which we are concerned with here. For each of the increments, the best matches are shown in the following graph:
It can be clearly seen that the criteria in the graph begins to derive from the line which has been maintained until 15% increments. For this reason, 15% increments will be used as the increment size for the sizing procedure; as an equilibrium between realistic supply sizes and a reasonable range of supply options.
The spreadsheet document used for this analysis is available for download.