Random data are generated in the simulation software, ARENA 10.0 [24].
In this study, hourly data are used in the simulation model. Therefore,
one of the hybrid system model assumptions is that the input
variables do not change throughout an hour. This means that the
solar radiation and the wind speed input values are constant e.g.
from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. in any month in the simulation model.
The length of each simulation run is considered as twenty years
of the economical life which consists of 365 days/year, 24 h/day,
in total 175,200 h. For each run, five independent replications are
completed. In the simulation model, since it is a popular and useful
variance reduction technique to compare two or more alternative
configurations, the common random numbers (CRN) variance
reduction technique is used. And since a steady state analysis is
needed to analyze a long time period non-terminating system,
the warm-up period is decided as 12,000 h [15]. Hourly mean solar
radiation and wind speed data for the period of 2001–2003 (26,280
data = 24 h 365 days 3 years) are recorded at a meteorological
station where the suggested hybrid energy system is to be established.
Technical specifications of the meteorological station are given
in Table 1 [25].