A methodology for supporting the planning of microgrids based on composable tools: A case in Bhutan

PV-micro-grids are becoming an affordable alternative to provide electricity access to isolated or remote regions due to both a reduction in prices and a strong focus on the free availability of renewable energy sources. When designing these microgrids, the use of optimization methods has been rather limited. Flexible systematic design tools that can adapt to different project sizes, the lack of data, and the different systems constraints, are of limited availability. This paper presents a methodology for a cost-effective design of microgrids based on composable tools using optimization. The optimization is aimed at identifying the optimum size of components for a required performance with the minimum possible cost due to given budget constraints. The developed methodology for optimizing micro-grids is then applied to an off-grid PV microgrid installation in Bhutan.