Design and Simulation of a Renewable Energy-Based Smart Grid for Ma'an City, Jordan: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

The escalating costs, transmission losses, and environmental ramifications associated with fossil fuel utilization have catalyzed a paradigm shift towards Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in electricity generation. Smart Grid (SG) technologies, which are inherently reliant on a RES-exclusive electricity framework, facilitate efficient energy consumption and the distribution of decentralized energy resources. This investigation underscores the integration of RES within SG infrastructure and the potential for Jordan's transition towards an SG-enabled future. Situated in a locale characterized by abundant solar irradiance and significant wind velocities, Ma'an city presents an optimal case study for RES deployment. An amalgamated RES system, comprising wind and photovoltaic (PV) modules with an aggregate capacity of 180MW, has been meticulously sized and designed to cater to the electrical demand of Ma'an. The load requirements for Ma'an were determined through an analysis of the city's average annual energy consumption, adjusted for population growth projections. To bolster the system's reliability and cater to emergency load demands, a storage solution has been integrated. The performance of the proposed design was substantiated and assessed via mathematical modeling and simulation analysis, utilizing the MATLAB Simulink platform. The simulations were conducted accounting for factors impinging upon each system's production capacity, inclusive of transmission line losses. Moreover, a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller was incorporated and evaluated under simulated fault conditions, ensuring system disconnection within a five-second window subsequent to fault detection. The simulation outcomes exhibited congruence with the mathematical model predictions. Economically, the installation of the proposed systems is justifiable, with projected savings of approximately 80 million Jordanian Dinars (JD) annually and a favorable payback period of 14 months. The levelized cost of electricity is competitively priced at 14.41 JD/MWh. The findings advocate for the expansion of RES integration across Jordan, suggesting the feasibility of a nationwide RES-based SG implementation.