Optimizing Photovoltaic Panel Quantity for Water Distribution Networks

The article introduces a procedure for determining an approximation of the optimal amount of photovoltaics (PVs) for powering water distribution networks (WDNs) through grid-connected PVs. The procedure aims to find the PV amount, minimizing the total expected cost of the WDN over the lifespan of the PVs. The approach follows an iterative process, starting with an initial estimate of the PV quantity and then calculating the total cost of WDN operation. To calculate the total cost of the WDN, we sample PV power profiles that represent the future production based on a probabilistic PV production model. Simulations are conducted assuming these sampled PV profiles power the WDN, and pump flow rates are determined using a control method designed for PV-powered WDNs. Following the simulations, the overall WDN cost is calculated. Since we lack access to derivative information, we employ the derivative-free Nelder-Mead method for iteratively adjusting the PV quantity to find an approximation of the optimal value. The procedure is applied for the WDN of Randers, a Danish town. By determining an approximation of the optimal quantity of PVs, we observe a 14.5% decrease in WDN costs compared to the scenario without PV installations, assuming a 25-year lifespan for the PV panels.