Search Results (125)

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) combining photovoltaic, wind, fuel cell, and energy storage technologies are becoming established as viable options for reliable, environmentally friendly distributed electricity generation. In this review, we examine the key architectures, monitoring and forecast approaches, and control systems that improve the efficiency of HRES and facilitate the just-energy transition to low-carbon power generation systems. The main optimization and decision-aware approaches, particularly the evolutionary generation algorithms and machine learning-based prediction models, are addressed with a focus on improving energy allocation, cost minimization, and increased use of clean renewable energy sources. Technical, economic, and environmental performance indicators, such as the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), net present cost (NPC), renewable fraction (RF), and CO₂ emissions reduction, have been compared to demonstrate the feasibility of various system scenarios. This paper evaluates and summarizes recent case studies from around the world and presents the best practices and the challenges they encounter, including resource availability, governance, and economic drivers. The balance of the paper demonstrates that smart forecasting with advanced energy management approaches is crucial for developing sustainable and resilient hybrid distributed power systems for the future. Full article

The decarbonization of electricity supply has intensified interest in standalone microgrids capable of achieving high renewable penetration while maintaining strict reliability. This study addresses the research questions of how cost-optimal standalone hybrid microgrids emerge under near-zero unmet-load constraints, how renewable variability and storage dynamics influence system behavior, and how cost-optimal designs compare with emissions-minimizing alternatives. A hybrid photovoltaic–wind–battery microgrid with dispatchable generation supplying a hospital facility in Carbondale, Illinois, USA, is analyzed under islanded operation. Site-specific data are combined with a constrained techno-economic optimization framework implemented in the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) to minimize net present cost (NPC) while enforcing hourly power balance and battery state-of-charge constraints. Sensitivity analysis on photovoltaic derating evaluates robustness under performance uncertainty. Results show that the cost-optimal hybrid configuration achieves a renewable fraction of 74.6%, with a renewable utilization index of approximately 0.78 and excess electricity of 22.4%. Limited and intermittent use of dispatchable generation reduces lifecycle cost to approximately $38.2 M. In contrast, a diesel-free configuration nearly doubles net present cost to $71 M under identical reliability constraints. The findings demonstrate that economically viable decarbonization of standalone microgrids is best achieved through diversified hybrid architectures rather than fully renewable extremes. Full article

Energy deficits have been a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in Nigeria. Consequently, the integration of renewable energy (RE) is a crucial strategy for achieving energy transition goals and addressing climate change issues. Therefore, this article investigates the technical, energy, economic, and environmental impact of PV/Wind/BS/Converter, a standalone hybrid energy mix for electrifying a single-family residential building prototype in multi-regional parts of Nigeria. This study aims to examine the renewable energy potential of three locations using HOMER Pro. The results indicate that Kano exhibits the lowest economic performance indices, with a net present cost (NPC) of USD 32,212.52 and a cost of energy (COE) of USD 0.6072/kWh, followed by Anambra (NPC: USD 45,671.68; COE: USD 0.8609/kWh) and Lagos (NPC: USD 47,184.62; COE: USD 0.8706/kWh). Technically, this study shows that the higher the renewable potential of a site, the lower the energy cost and vice versa. The sensitivity cases of key energy parameters—including solar PV cost, wind turbine cost, wind speed, solar radiation, and inflation rate—were considered to compare multiple scenarios and assess renewable energy potential variability under certain decision-making conditions. Economically, the Kano system shows the feasible capital cost of the energy produced, replacement cost, and operation and maintenance cost (O&M) for wind turbines, compared to the nil cost for Anambra and Lagos. Environmentally, the energy systems revealed 100% renewable fractions (RFs) with zero emissions at the three sites under study, which can enhance Nigeria’s energy transition plan and help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Integrating RE supports the successful implementation of the recommended energy policy strategies for Nigeria. Full article

Algeria’s transition toward sustainable energy requires the exploitation of its abundant solar and wind resources for green hydrogen production. This study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of an off-grid PV/wind hybrid system integrated with a hydrogen subsystem (electrolyzer, fuel cell, and hydrogen storage) to supply both electricity and hydrogen to decentralized sites in Algeria. Using HOMER Pro, five representative Algerian regions were analyzed, accounting for variations in solar irradiation, wind speed, and groundwater availability. A deferrable water-extraction and treatment load was incorporated to model the water requirements of the electrolyzer. In addition, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted on solar irradiation, wind speed, and the capital costs of PV panels and wind turbines to capture the effects of renewable resource and investment cost fluctuations. The results indicate significant regional variation, with the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) ranging from 0.514 to 0.868 $/kWh, the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) between 8.31 and 12.4 $/kg, and the net present cost (NPC) between 10.28 M$ and 17.7 M$, demonstrating that all cost metrics are highly sensitive to these variations. Full article

The rural community of L’Anse au Loup in southern Labrador depends on a long-distance transmission link to Hydro-Québec for its electricity supply, with diesel generation as backup during outages. This dependence raises electricity costs, exposes the community to supply disruptions, and limits control over local energy security. This study evaluates the feasibility of a solar–wind hybrid energy system to reduce imported electricity and improve supply reliability. A detailed site assessment identified a 50-hectare area north of the community as suitable for system installation, offering adequate space and minimal land-use conflict. Using Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER Pro 3.18.3) software, the analysis modeled local load data, renewable resource profiles, and financial parameters to determine the optimal grid-connected configuration. The optimized design installs 19.25 MW of photovoltaic (PV) and 4.62 MW of wind capacity, supported by inverters and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to ensure stable operation. Simulations show that the hybrid system supplies about 70% of annual demand, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 95% compared with conventional generation, and lowers long-term energy costs. The results confirm that the proposed configuration can strengthen local energy security and provide a replicable framework for other remote and coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador pursuing decarbonization. Full article

Renewable energy sources can be of significant help to rural communities with inadequate electricity access. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of a 500 kWp solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy system designed for Ibadan, Nigeria. A novel hybrid modeling framework was developed in which technical performance analysis was employed using PVSyst, whereas economic and optimization analysis was carried out using HOMER. Simulation outputs from PVSyst were integrated as inputs into HOMER, enabling a more accurate and consistent cross-platform assessment. Nigeria’s enduring energy crisis, marked by persistent grid unreliability and limited electricity access, necessitates need for exploration of sustainable alternatives. Among these, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology offers significant promise given the country’s abundant solar irradiation. The proposed system was evaluated using meteorological and load demand data. PVSyst simulations projected an annual energy yield of 714,188 kWh, with a 25-year lifespan yielding a performance ratio between 77% and 78%, demonstrating high operational efficiency. Complementary HOMER Pro analysis revealed a competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of USD 0.079/kWh—substantially lower than the baseline grid-only cost of USD 0.724/kWh, and a Net Present Cost (NPC) of USD 6.1 million, reflecting considerable long-term financial savings. Furthermore, the system achieved compelling environmental outcomes, including an annual reduction of approximately 160,508 kg of CO₂ emissions. Sensitivity analysis indicated that increasing the feed-in tariff (FiT) from USD 0.10 to USD 0.20/kWh improved the project’s financial viability, shortening payback periods to just 5.2 years and enhancing return on investment. Overall, the findings highlight the technical robustness, economic competitiveness, and environmental significance of deploying solar-based energy solutions, while reinforcing the urgent need for supportive energy policies to incentivize large-scale adoption. Full article

Energy is a vital component of life today, and providing reliable power access remains a significant global challenge, particularly in remote areas. In Egypt, several isolated regions, including parts of South Sinai, suffer from limited electricity access. This study presents an enhanced environmental and techno-economic modeling of an off-grid hybrid renewable energy microgrid (HREM) tailored for such regions. A proposed configuration combining photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines (WTs), a converter (CONV), and battery energy storage is evaluated to meet the residential energy demand of an isolated community in South Sinai. Four feasible system models, PV/CONV/BAT, WT/CONV/BAT, PV/WT/CONV/BAT, and a standalone diesel generator, were simulated using hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources. The cost of energy was analyzed under different scenarios. The results show that the combination of a 1109 kW PV system, 16 × 25 kW WTs, 439 kW converter, and 353 batteries is the best configuration that leads to the lowest values of Net Present Cost (NPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (COE), and zero unmet load, making it the most economically and environmentally viable configuration. Full article

To reduce the amount of harmful gases produced by fossil fuels, more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives are being proposed around the world. As a result, technologies for manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells and producing green hydrogen are becoming more widespread, with an impact on energy production and environmental protection. In many countries around the world, and in Africa in particular, leaders, scientists, and populations are considering switching from fossil fuels to so-called green energies. Hydrogen is therefore an interesting alternative that deserves to be explored, especially since both rural and urban populations have shown an interest in using it in the near future, which would reduce pollution and the proliferation of greenhouse gases, thereby mitigating global warming. The aim of this paper is to determine the hybrid energy system best suited to addressing the energy problem in the study area, and then to make successive substitutions of different energy sources, starting with the most polluting, in order to assess the possibilities for transitioning the energy used in the area to green hydrogen. To this end, this study began with a technical and economic analysis which, based on climatic parameters, led to the proposal of a PV/DG-BATTery system configuration, with a Net Present Cost (NPC) of USD 19,267 and an average Cost Of Energy (COE) of USD 0.4, and with a high proportion of CO₂ emissions compared with the PV/H₂GEN-BATT and H₂GEN systems. The results of replacing fossil fuel generators with hydrogen generators are beneficial in terms of environmental protection and lead to a reduction in energy-related expenses of around 2.1 times the cost of diesel and a reduction in mass of around 2.7 times the mass of diesel. The integration of H₂GEN, at high duty percentages, increases the Cost Of Energy, whether in a hybrid PV/H₂GEN system or an H₂GEN system. This shows the interest in the study country in using favorable duty proportions to make the use of hydrogen profitable. Full article

This study presents the design and techno-economic optimization of a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) for a coastal hotel in Manavgat, Türkiye. The system integrates photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines (WT), pumped hydro storage (PHS), hydrogen storage (electrolyzer, tank, and fuel cell), batteries, a fuel cell-based combined heat and power (CHP) unit, and a boiler to meet both electrical and thermal demands. Within this broader optimization framework, six optimal configurations emerged, representing grid-connected and standalone operation modes. Optimization was performed in HOMER Pro to minimize net present cost (NPC) under strict reliability (0% unmet load) and renewable energy fraction (REF > 75%) constraints. The grid-connected PHS–PV–WT configuration achieved the lowest NPC ($1.33 million) and COE ($0.153/kWh), with a renewable fraction of ~96% and limited excess generation (~21%). Off-grid PHS-based and PHS–hydrogen configurations showed competitive performance with slightly higher costs. Hydrogen integration additionally provides complementary storage pathways, coordinated operation, waste heat utilization, and redundancy under component unavailability. Battery-only systems without PHS or hydrogen storage resulted in 37–39% higher capital costs and ~53% higher COE, confirming the economic advantage of long-duration PHS. Sensitivity analyses indicate that real discount rate variations notably affect NPC and COE, particularly for battery-only systems. Component cost sensitivity highlights PV and WT as dominant cost drivers, while PHS stabilizes system economics and the hydrogen subsystem contributes minimally due to its small scale. Overall, these results confirm the techno-economic and environmental benefits of combining seawater-based PHS with optional hydrogen and battery storage for sustainable hotel-scale applications. Full article

This study explored the optimization of green hydrogen production via seawater electrolysis powered by a hybrid photovoltaic (PV)-wind system in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A Box–Behnken Design (BBD), adapted from Response Surface Methodology (RSM), was utilized to address the synergistic effect of key operational factors on the integration of renewable energy for green hydrogen production and its economic viability. Addressing critical gaps in renewable energy integration, the research evaluated the feasibility of direct seawater electrolysis and hybrid renewable systems, alongside their techno-economic viability, to support South Africa’s transition from a coal-dependent energy system. Key variables, including electrolyzer efficiency, wind and PV capacity, and financial parameters, were analyzed to optimize performance metrics such as the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), Net Present Cost (NPC), and annual hydrogen production. At 95% confidence level with regression coefficient (R² > 0.99) and statistical significance (p < 0.05), optimal conditions of electricity efficiency of 95%, a wind-turbine capacity of 4960 kW, a capital investment of $40,001, operational costs of $40,000 per year, a project lifetime of 29 years, a nominal discount rate of 8.9%, and a generic PV capacity of 29 kW resulted in a predictive LCOH of 0.124$/kg H₂ with a yearly production of 355,071 kg. Within the scope of this study, with the goal of minimizing the cost of production, the lowest LCOH observed can be attributed to the architecture of the power ratios (Wind/PV cells) at high energy efficiency (95%) without the cost of desalination of the seawater, energy storage and transportation. Electrolyzer efficiency emerged as the most influential factor, while financial parameters significantly affected the cost-related responses. The findings underscore the technical and economic viability of hybrid renewable-powered seawater electrolysis as a sustainable pathway for South Africa’s transition away from coal-based energy systems. Full article

Access to renewable energy is vital for rural development and climate change mitigation. The intermittency of renewable sources necessitates efficient energy storage, especially in off-grid applications. This study evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental performance of an off-grid hybrid system for the rural settlement of Soma, Turkey. Using HOMER Pro 3.14.2 software, a system consisting of solar, wind, battery, and hydrogen components was modeled under four scenarios with Cyclic Charging (CC) and Load Following (LF) control strategies for optimization. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and hydrogen leakage impacts were calculated separately through MATLAB R2019b analysis in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. Scenario 1 (PV + wind + battery + H₂) offered the most balanced solution with a net present cost (NPC) of USD 297,419, with a cost of electricity (COE) of USD 0.340/kWh. Scenario 2 without batteries increased hydrogen consumption despite a similar COE. Scenario 3 with wind only achieved the lowest hydrogen consumption and the highest efficiency. In Scenario 4, hydrogen consumption decreased with battery reintegration, but COE increased. Specific CO₂ emissions ranged between 36–45 gCO₂-eq/kWh across scenarios. Results indicate that the control strategy and component selection strongly influence performance and that hydrogen-based hybrid systems offer a sustainable solution in rural areas. Full article

This study evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of grid-connected and off-grid hybrid energy systems designed to meet the energy demands of a greenhouse facility. Various system configurations were developed based on combinations of solar, wind, diesel, and battery storage technologies. The analysis considers a daily electricity consumption of 369.52 kWh and a peak load of 52.59 kW for the greenhouse complex. Among the grid-connected systems, the grid/PV configuration was identified as the most optimal, offering the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) of USD 282,492, the lowest Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) at USD 0.0401/kWh, and a reasonable emissions reduction of 54.94%. For off-grid scenarios, the generator/PV/battery configuration was the most cost-effective option, with a total cost of USD 1.19 million and an LCOE of USD 0.342/kWh. Environmentally, this system showed a strong performance, achieving a 64.58% reduction in CO₂ emissions; in contrast, fully renewable systems such as PV/wind/battery and wind/battery configurations succeeded in reaching zero-emission targets but were economically unfeasible due to their very high investment costs and limited practical applicability. Sensitivity analyses revealed that economic factors such as inflation and energy prices have a critical effect on the payback time and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Full article

This paper presents the optimal design and cost–benefit analysis of an off-grid solar photovoltaic system integrated with a hybrid energy storage system for a Category 3 rural healthcare facility in Elands Bay, South Africa. The optimal configuration, designed in Homer Pro, consists of a 16.1 kW solar PV array, 10 kW lithium-ion battery, 23 supercapacitor strings (2 modules per string), 50 kW fuel cell, 50 kW electrolyzer, 20 kg hydrogen tank, and 10.8 kW power converter. The daily energy consumption for the selected healthcare facility is 44.82 kWh, and peak demand is 9.352 kW. The off-grid system achieves 100% reliability (zero unmet load) and zero CO₂ emissions, compared to the 24,128 kg/year of CO₂ emissions produced by the diesel generator. Economically, it demonstrates strong competitiveness with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of ZAR24.35/kWh and a net present cost (NPC) of ZAR6.05 million. Sensitivity analysis reveals the potential for a further 20–40% reduction in LCOE by 2030 through anticipated declines in component costs. Hence, it is established that the proposed model is a reliable and viable option for off-grid rural healthcare facilities. Full article

In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom aims to achieve one of its main environmental targets: reaching net zero emissions by 2060. This ambitious goal can be realized through Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies, particularly Direct Air Capture (DAC), which is among the most promising solutions. DAC offers high potential for extracting Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) directly from the atmosphere and is considered sustainable, especially when powered by renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. However, the technology remains highly cost-intensive. This paper presents a techno-economic assessment of renewable energy configurations to determine the most cost-effective solutions for DAC deployment. The evaluation focuses on Net Present Cost (NPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) across several regions in Saudi Arabia, using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) Pro software (version 3.18.4). Full article

This paper aims to find an efficient optimization algorithm to bring down the cost function without compromising the stability of the system and respect the operational constraints of the Hybrid Renewable Energy System. To accomplish this, MATLAB simulations were carried out using three optimization techniques: Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO), and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO). The study compared their outcomes to identify which method yielded the most effective performance. The research included a statistical analysis to evaluate how consistently and stably each optimization method performed. The analysis revealed optimal values for the output power of photovoltaic systems (PVs), wind turbines (WTs), diesel generator capacity (DGs), and battery storage (BS). A one-year period was used to confirm the optimized configuration through the analysis of capital investment and fuel consumption. Among the three methods, GWO achieved the best fitness value of 0.24593 with an LPSP of 0.12528, indicating high system reliability. MOPSO exhibited the fastest convergence behaviour. TLBO yielded the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) of 213,440 and a Cost of Energy (COE) of 1.91446/kW, though with a comparatively higher fitness value of 0.26628. The analysis suggests that GWO is suitable for applications requiring high reliability, TLBO is preferable for cost-sensitive solutions, and MOPSO is advantageous for obtaining quick, approximate results. Full article