Feasibility analysis and optimization of an energy-water-heat nexus supplied by an autonomous hybrid renewable power generation system: An empirical study on airport facilities

This paper investigates the potential and feasibility of an integrating hybrid renewable power generation system with a large-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant to provide electricity, heat, and water for the New Capital International Airport, Egypt. The proposed energy system contains photovoltaic panels, wind turbine, combined heat-power microturbine generator, diesel generator, batteries, converter, thermal load controller, and a boiler. A comprehensive energy-economic-environmental optimization analysis was performed to optimize energy systems in which 16-feasible solutions were evaluated and compared. The results revealed that the optimal system has the least net present and energy costs by 1.54 M$ and 0.089 $/kWh, respectively, and needs only 1.12 years to recover the invested money. Moreover, the proposed system produces emissions of 59.5% less than the base-case. The optimal system has a negligible unmet load ratio since it has a negligible loss of power supply possibility of 0.0993%. The thermal load controller has a significant impact on reducing the net present cost, cost of energy, emissions, and needed batteries by 52%, 56.4%, 36.5%, and 90%, respectively compared to the base-case. The obtained results are expected to attract large investments in clean energy and water desalination because of the government's challenges in such fields. •Energy-economic-environmental optimization is performed for an airport in the new capital of Egypt.•Prominence is set to provide the airport with the daily need for electricity, heat, and water.•The effect of renewables, TLC, and batteries on the optimal system performance is discussed.•The cost of energy of the optimal system is reached to 0.08 $/kWh with a payback period of 1.2 years.•The proposed system generates 59.5% of CO2 emission less than the traditional diesel.