Techno-Economic Operation of a Hybrid PV-WT-Battery System Installed in Aljouf Region

Abstract

Electrification of remote places is typically accomplished by expensive and environmentally unfriendly diesel generator (DG) systems, with extra financial challenges resulting from the delivery of diesel fuel. For isolated locations, hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) provide an innovative method of electrification. To determine whether RES is viable in these areas, a techno-economic analysis is necessary. This work examines a microgrid (MG) installed in Aljouf region of Saudi Arabia, which is known to have great renewable potential due to its high solar irradiance and moderate wind resources. A techno-economic analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), and battery setup, customized to the local climate and energy requirements, has been studied in this research. The performance of six HRES configurations using HOMER Pro software simulations is analyzed to reveal the net present cost (NPC), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), reliability, and environmental impact. The findings show that, the performance in grid-connected mode is far superior to stand-alone mode in terms of cost, reliability, and environmental sustainability. The optimal grid-connected system acheived LCOE of $0.0148/kWh and negative stack carbon footprint due to the surplus of renewable energy fed-in the grid. On the other hand, stand-alone systems can manage renewable energy variability only through large batteries. These results further emphasize the importance of plugging into the grid to balance the energy supply and demand. The findings of this study offer a systematic framework for designing cost-effective and sustainable hybrid renewable systems in regions with similar resource profiles.