Design of compensation battery for tidal power‐photovoltaics‐SOFC microgrids in Ternate and Pulau‐Tidore Islands

Summary Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) can supply backup power for a remote island microgrid that generates power from tidal energy, photovoltaics (PV), and wind turbines. Since SOFCs need high temperature operation, though, the possible output adjustments are relatively slow. Therefore, SOFC with renewable energy requires the electricity compensation by a storage battery. This paper reports the analysis results using MATLAB/Simulink 2016b simulations of a microgrid with tidal energy, photovoltaics, and SOFC generators. The dynamic characteristics of the modeled SOFC are estimated from experimental tests of a product in Japan, and the suitable battery capacity for such a microgrid is determined. Furthermore, proposed system stores surplus electricity using a hydrogen energy carrier, energy supply can be carried out only in renewable energy. The remote tropical islands of Ternate and Pulau‐Tidore served as a case study area for the proposed microgrid. Proposed microgrid for a remote island was modeled using MATLAB/Simulink 2016b. The simulations clarified the suitable combination of tidal power generation, PV, and SOFC capacity assuming a maximum load. The required capacity of a Li‐ion storage battery in the example case of Indonesia's remote Ternate and Pulau‐Tidore Island needs to be 3.2% of the maximum hourly load if the maximum load on the microgrid is 1200 kW.