A Linear Programming Approach to the Design of Integrated Renewable Energy Systems for Developing Countries

Integrated renewable energy systems (IRES) which utilize different manifestations of solar energy to satisfy various energy needs are well suited for the remote rural areas of developing countries. By employing a linear programming approach, this paper develops a methodology for the design of IRES. The method is quite general and it minimizes an objective function of total annual cost, subject to a set of energy and power constraints. A numerical example is included to illustrate the design procedure.