Simulation of 24×365 systemsWe started the simulation in April 2024 to find out if off-grid fast-charging settlements are feasible. We used the EU Photovoltaic Geographical Information System. The start of the design was a 1 ha energy-optimized village with an additional fast-charging area. These are the 1,120 modules with a 25° slope towards the east and west slope on the houses and the 968 modules with an 8° slope east and west covering the central structure. We added a fast-loading area covered with 1,200 photovoltaic modules with a 5° slope facing south at the northern half of Earth and north at the southern half of Earth. A fast charging station can have very different business. Nearly nothing at the beginning up to beyond the optimal load limit. The simulation tested with 20 kW to 240 kW load in the far north and 80 kW to 400 kW at all other locations in steps of 20 kW. The data was for each hour from 2005 until the end of 2020. For every hour decisions are made, how much should be used for power-to-methanol, and on the other end, do we have to start the generator? The power-to-methanol system is powered during the night by the batteries. The simulation combined 10 different battery sizes with 10 different power-to-sizes. So a simulation is 16 years × 365.25 days × 24 hours × 10 battery sizes × 10 power-to sizes × 17 different loads = 238,435,200 decisions and calculations. We did the simulation with 50 different places. 35% HHV (Higher Heating Value) efficiency is typical for methanol-powered generators in the 200 kW to 500 kW range. There could be up to 48%, but the additional cost at only some hundred hours of yearly usage makes this high-efficiency option too expensive. The efficiency of a 50 kW to 300 kW power-to-methanol system is assumed to be 50%. This simulation is with a flat demand over all the year. With a higher demand in winter, would the 24×365 conversion rate be even lower in Aalborg and Salzburg. On the other side, industry with variable production increases the 24×365 conversion rate. |













