Modeling and techno-economic study of a hybrid renewable energy power plant for electrification in rural areas with an equatorial climate

This study proposes a hybrid system model integrating photovoltaic panels, biomass generator, storage batteries, or a pumped hydro storage system to electrify rural areas in equatorial climate. The primary objective of this study is to minimize the net present cost of the hybrid system. This is achieved by taking into account the Loss of Power Supply Probability as a technical parameter, and the fraction of capacity shortage and operating reserves as constraints. The modeling and techno-economic analysis were carried out with the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources software, using the load following dispatch strategy and biomass generator scheduling. The results show that the Photovoltaic panels/biomass generator/battery system is the most cost-effective and reliable of the six models studied. To meet a domestic demand of 55.18 kWh per day, this system provides a lower net present cost and cost of energy with a power loss probability of 5.08 %. The optimal system is the same to meet the commercial load demand of 43.36 kWh, but with a reliability of 3.07 %. Furthermore, the results indicate that the cycle charging strategy offers a more cost-effective solution than the load-following strategy. A sensitivity analysis revealed that certain factors can influence the cost of the system, including solar irradiation, which makes the system well suited to areas of high solar irradiation.