HOMER Pro 3.16
The Renewable Power Source option for creating a Custom Component allows a user to import time-series data on power output from a renewable component. You can use the Renewable Power Source option to import solar power output data from third-party software, such as Helioscope and PVSyst.
Note: The Custom Component is a non-dispatchable power source.
For example, if you want to import PV power output (KW) as a power source, you can use the Renewable Power Source Custom Component instead of the PV component in HOMER. If you have a CSV file containing only PV output (KW) in 8760 rows, you can upload it to use in HOMER.
To use the CSV file:
1.Create a CSV file with 8760 rows of PV power output (KW); e.g., from a Helioscope CSV file.
2.Click Custom under the Components tab. Select Renewable Power Source from the drop-down menu and click Add Component.
3.Click Custom under the Resources tab. Click Add after Power Output.
4.On the Power Output (kW) Resource page, click Import. The data from the CSV appears on the page.
Note: If the imported power output accounts for energy loss and is negative at any time step, HOMER will treat these values as zero.
5.Click the Component tab. If it is not visible, click Custom and Renewable Power Source.
6.Select the HOMER Optimizer radio button under Capacity Optimization.
7.Add the Capital, Replacement, and O&M costs for the PV panel.
8.Add the operating reserve for this component.
You can leave the required operating reserve at 0 or enter a required % of the output to be backed up with reserves. This backup is useful if you are using the renewable power source to model PV (this example). Then you can assume that the PV panel is unreliable for 25% of the output. So for every time step you require that 25% of the PV output is backed up with reserve.
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