Desalinated Water and Power for a Seaside Hotel: A Case Study using Off-grid Solar and Wind

A hybrid combination of solar and wind energies for a remote seaside hotel is analyzed. More specifically, a hotel in Hammamet, Tunisia, powered by photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine is evaluated, with water generated by desalination using reverse osmosis. This isolated accommodation establishment is off-grid, having to produce its own drinking water, energy for cooking, lighting, etc. The power balances in these PV-wind-desalination systems is strongly influenced by the sunshine, the wind, and the demand. Based on an analysis of needs, the system is then sized. The variable nature of renewable energy sources, combined with unpredictable changes in load, require the simultaneous implementation of high power and high energy density storage systems. Thus, an storage system by lead-acid batteries for power and an elevated storage tank is considered, developing an autonomous microgrid connected to a variable charge. The system was validated by simulations (performed by Matlab/Simulink), based on data from the location, allowing us to predict the dynamic behavior. The simulation results validate the performance of the system.