As part of the development phase of microgrid projects, the optimal design of a hybrid system is mainly conditioned by three factors: the available renewable resources, the economic conditions and the time evolution of the electrical load. Be it residential, tertiary or industrial, a microgrid load is generally made up of three overlapping variations:

• A short - term cycle: typically daily
• Mid-term cycles: weekly and seasonal
• A long-term evolution: over years and decades

The optimal sizing of a hybrid system and the assessment of associated storage needs directly depend on the correlation of these variations with the cycles of renewable resources (solar, wind, etc.) and the evolution of economic factors.

For many projects, the load profile data is difficult to obtain or not available. Furthermore, when the short & mid-term cycles are identified, long-term evolutions are often poorly defined, if not neglected, despite the significant duration (15-20 years) of most investments' life cycle. This presentation discusses a load-profile simulation software that allows the user to synthesize the lifetime evolution of a micro-grid load through bottom-up aggregation of its elementary components and changes.

Patrick Leguillette
Consultant
QiDO Energy Development GmbH

Mr. Leguillette is working as a consultant with QiDO Energy Development GmbH, a German company providing consultancy services and performing research & development for the renewable energy sector, with a special focus on hybrid systems. Previously Mr. Leguillette was business developer and project director at the French wind turbine manufacturer Vergnet S.A., responsible for the development of the hybrid systems activity where he developed significant experience in renewable energy and hybrid power systems. Before joining Vergnet, Patrick held various management positions on major energy projects with Alstom Power. Prior engagements were as flight test engineer for the General Delegation for Armaments, France. A graduate from Ecole Polytechnique in France, Patrick is also an aeronautical engineer and holds a military pilot license.