Multiple design options for sizing off-grid microgrids: A novel single-objective approach to support multi-criteria decision making

When designing a microgrid, developers usually regard economic metrics, and occasionally consider reliability environmental aspects. However, sociopolitical, supply chain, geographical facets, among others, are often never included in project-design because they really difficult to model, especially, the context of developing countries. Traditional planning methodologies offer an optimal solution, disregarding solutions with similar profitability but different size components, even when these second-best can better fit non-considered intangible developer needs. In this paper, we define concept Multiple Design Options (MDO) for single-objective optimization. We propose novel methodology (MDO-PSO) sizing stand-alone hybrid energy systems that, by using Particle Swarm Optimization, identifies solution post-processes search history select options interest. While searching traditional optimum, proposed iterative algorithm stores all tried configurations. Moreover, Pareto-like frontier, denoted as MDO-Pareto, is highlight tradeoff between Net Present Cost (NPC) CAPEX. The frontier also compared standard multi-objective optimization illustrate how MDO-PSO successfully captures multiple goals. numerical case study PV-battery-diesel-tank system Uganda confirms that MDOs differing up 32% capacity achieve NPC values within 2%–5% optimality both load following predictive MILP rolling-horizon operating strategies, thus suggesting important implications business decision making.