IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v238y2025ics0960148124019736.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From diesel reliance to sustainable power in Iraq: Optimized hybrid microgrid solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Tahir, Kawakib Arar
  • Nieto, Juanjo
  • Díaz-López, Carmen
  • Ordóñez, Javier

Abstract

This study investigates Iraq’s challenging electricity landscape, exacerbated by the cumulative impacts of four wars, leading to daily power outages. The reliance on neighborhood diesel generators (NDG) as a temporary fix is critically assessed, with a strong expert consensus via the Delphi method advocating for a transition to solar photovoltaic (SPV) panels. The Delphi survey involved 20 experts, with 85% agreeing on the necessity of this transition, and high consensus (90% or higher) achieved on key questions regarding the inadequacy of NDG and the suitability of SPV as a replacement. The scarcity of local load data prompted the adaptation of Spain’s load profiles to Iraq using the innovative Rosetta transform, identifying the optimal number of SPV panels needed for low, base, and high consumption scenarios as 7, 9, and 11 panels, respectively. In a first approach to the viability of such an SPV installation, it is deduced that the minimum prices per kWh should be between $0.106 and $0.078, depending on the scenario, for it to be viable, well above the current prices in Iraq. A deeper analysis was then performed to evaluate Hybrid Microgrid Systems (HMGS) integrating SPVs, batteries and gasoline generators, both off-grid and grid-connected, and taking into account NDG-related savings. This analysis evidenced the viability of a grid-connected HMGS, leveraging SPV and battery storage, as the most economically viable solution, achieving payback periods up to 3.6 years in the best case. This research underscores the need for a policy shift towards sustainable energy solutions in Iraq and similar contexts, highlighting the technical and economic advantages of adopting clean, renewable energy systems over traditional NDG, and paving the way for a sustainable energy future.

Suggested Citation

  • Tahir, Kawakib Arar & Nieto, Juanjo & Díaz-López, Carmen & Ordóñez, Javier, 2025. "From diesel reliance to sustainable power in Iraq: Optimized hybrid microgrid solutions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:238:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124019736
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121905
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124019736
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121905?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dawoud, Samir M. & Lin, Xiangning & Okba, Merfat I., 2018. "Hybrid renewable microgrid optimization techniques: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2039-2052.
    2. Aziz, Ali Saleh & Tajuddin, Mohammad Faridun Naim & Adzman, Mohd Rafi & Mohammed, Mohd Fayzul & Ramli, Makbul A.M., 2020. "Feasibility analysis of grid-connected and islanded operation of a solar PV microgrid system: A case study of Iraq," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Puppala, Harish & K Jha, Shibani & Singh, Ajit Pratap & Madurai Elavarasan, Rajvikram & Elia Campana, Pietro, 2022. "Identification and analysis of barriers for harnessing geothermal energy in India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 327-340.
    4. Liu, Shih-Yuan & Perng, Yeng-Horng & Ho, Yu-Feng, 2013. "The effect of renewable energy application on Taiwan buildings: What are the challenges and strategies for solar energy exploitation?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 92-106.
    5. Haratian, Mojtaba & Tabibi, Pouya & Sadeghi, Meisam & Vaseghi, Babak & Poustdouz, Amin, 2018. "A renewable energy solution for stand-alone power generation: A case study of KhshU Site-Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 926-935.
    6. Akinyele, Daniel O. & Rayudu, Ramesh K., 2016. "Techno-economic and life cycle environmental performance analyses of a solar photovoltaic microgrid system for developing countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 160-179.
    7. Alsagri, Ali Sulaiman & Alrobaian, Abdulrahman A. & Nejlaoui, Mohamed, 2021. "Techno-economic evaluation of an off-grid health clinic considering the current and future energy challenges: A rural case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 34-52.
    8. Aziz, Ali Saleh & Tajuddin, Mohammad Faridun Naim & Adzman, Mohd Rafi & Azmi, Azralmukmin & Ramli, Makbul A.M., 2019. "Optimization and sensitivity analysis of standalone hybrid energy systems for rural electrification: A case study of Iraq," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 775-792.
    9. Feng, Yanchao & Shoaib, Muhammad & Akram, Rabia & Alnafrah, Ibrahim & Ai, Fengyi & Irfan, Muhammad, 2024. "Assessing and prioritizing biogas energy barriers: A sustainable roadmap for energy security," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    10. Norman Dalkey & Olaf Helmer, 1963. "An Experimental Application of the DELPHI Method to the Use of Experts," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(3), pages 458-467, April.
    11. Ribeiro, Lauro A. & da Silva, Patrícia Pereira & Mata, Teresa M. & Martins, António A., 2015. "Prospects of using microalgae for biofuels production: Results of a Delphi study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 799-804.
    12. Chade, Daniel & Miklis, Tomasz & Dvorak, David, 2015. "Feasibility study of wind-to-hydrogen system for Arctic remote locations – Grimsey island case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 204-211.
    13. Flostrand, Andrew & Pitt, Leyland & Bridson, Shannon, 2020. "The Delphi technique in forecasting– A 42-year bibliographic analysis (1975–2017)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    14. C. J. Torrecilla-Salinas & O. Troyer & M. J. Escalona & M. Mejías, 2019. "A Delphi-based expert judgment method applied to the validation of a mature Agile framework for Web development projects," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 9-40, March.
    15. Taghavifar, Hadi & Zomorodian, Zahra Sadat, 2021. "Techno-economic viability of on grid micro-hybrid PV/wind/Gen system for an educational building in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    16. Khan, Faizan A. & Pal, Nitai & Saeed, Syed H., 2021. "Optimization and sizing of SPV/Wind hybrid renewable energy system: A techno-economic and social perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    17. Kawakib Arar Tahir & Javier Ordóñez & Juanjo Nieto, 2024. "Exploring Evolution and Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis and Scientific Mapping of Multiobjective Optimization Applied to Hybrid Microgrid Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-29, June.
    18. Fusfeld, Alan R. & Foster, Richard N., 1971. "The Delphi technique: Survey and comment : Essentials for corporate use," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 63-74, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pascasio, Jethro Daniel A. & Esparcia, Eugene A. & Castro, Michael T. & Ocon, Joey D., 2021. "Comparative assessment of solar photovoltaic-wind hybrid energy systems: A case for Philippine off-grid islands," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1589-1607.
    2. Aziz, Ali Saleh & Tajuddin, Mohammad Faridun Naim & Hussain, Moaid K. & Adzman, Mohd Rafi & Ghazali, Nur Hafizah & Ramli, Makbul A.M. & Khalil Zidane, Tekai Eddine, 2022. "A new optimization strategy for wind/diesel/battery hybrid energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    3. Vaziri Rad, Mohammad Amin & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh & Niu, Xiaofeng & Zhang, Kai & Mahian, Omid, 2023. "Excess electricity problem in off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems: A comprehensive review from challenges to prevalent solutions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 538-560.
    4. Aziz, Ali Saleh & Tajuddin, Mohammad Faridun Naim & Adzman, Mohd Rafi & Mohammed, Mohd Fayzul & Ramli, Makbul A.M., 2020. "Feasibility analysis of grid-connected and islanded operation of a solar PV microgrid system: A case study of Iraq," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Ali Saleh Aziz & Mohammad Faridun Naim Tajuddin & Tekai Eddine Khalil Zidane & Chun-Lien Su & Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud & Mohammed J. Alwazzan & Ali Jawad Kadhim Alrubaie, 2022. "Design and Optimization of a Grid-Connected Solar Energy System: Study in Iraq," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-29, July.
    6. Hassan, Rakibul & Das, Barun K. & Hasan, Mahmudul, 2022. "Integrated off-grid hybrid renewable energy system optimization based on economic, environmental, and social indicators for sustainable development," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    7. Polash Ahmed & Md. Ferdous Rahman & A. K. M. Mahmudul Haque & Mustafa K. A. Mohammed & G. F. Ishraque Toki & Md. Hasan Ali & Abdul Kuddus & M. H. K. Rubel & M. Khalid Hossain, 2023. "Feasibility and Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hybrid Photovoltaic System: A Rural Healthcare Center in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, January.
    8. Badir S. Alsaeed & Dexter V. L. Hunt & Soroosh Sharifi, 2024. "A Sustainable Water Resources Management Assessment Framework (SWRM-AF) for Arid and Semi-Arid Regions—Part 2: Refining the Conceptual Framework Using the Delphi Technique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-26, May.
    9. Yang, Xiyun & Liu, Siqu & Zhang, Le & Su, Jianzheng & Ye, Tianze, 2020. "Design and analysis of a renewable energy power system for shale oil exploitation using hierarchical optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    10. Jamiu O. Oladigbolu & Asad Mujeeb & Amir A. Imam & Ali Muhammad Rushdi, 2022. "Design, Technical and Economic Optimization of Renewable Energy-Based Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Africa: The Case of Nigeria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-32, December.
    11. Tiberius, Victor & Gojowy, Robin & Dabić, Marina, 2022. "Forecasting the future of robo advisory: A three-stage Delphi study on economic, technological, and societal implications," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    12. Menéndez-Caravaca, Eloísa & Bueno, Salvador & Gallego, M. Dolores, 2021. "Exploring the link between free and open source software and the collaborative economy: A Delphi-based scenario for the year 2025," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    13. Prommer, Lisa & Tiberius, Victor & Kraus, Sascha, 2020. "Exploring the future of startup leadership development," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    14. Mohammad Hossein Jahangir & Seyed Ali Mousavi & Ruhollah Asayesh Zarchi, 2021. "Implementing single- and multi-year sensitivity analyses to propose several feasible solutions for meeting the electricity demand in large-scale tourism sectors applying renewable systems," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14494-14527, October.
    15. Jean-Michel Clairand & Carlos Álvarez-Bel & Javier Rodríguez-García & Guillermo Escrivá-Escrivá, 2020. "Impact of Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy on the Long-Term Planning of an Isolated Microgrid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, July.
    16. Uyan, Eren, 2024. "Tecno-econo-enviro-social assessment of clean electrification for a marine equipment manufacturing plant in Türkiye through hybrid renewable energy system with demand response," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    17. Peppel, Marcel & Ringbeck, Jürgen & Spinler, Stefan, 2022. "How will last-mile delivery be shaped in 2040? A Delphi-based scenario study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    18. Khan, Faizan A. & Pal, Nitai & Saeed, Syed H., 2021. "Optimization and sizing of SPV/Wind hybrid renewable energy system: A techno-economic and social perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    19. Leypoldt, Leo & Dienhart, Christina & Caferoglu, Hüseyin & Salge, Torsten-Oliver & Antons, David, 2024. "The hydrogen field in 2035: A Delphi study forecasting dominant technology bundles," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    20. Ozturk, Zafer & Terkes, Musa & Demirci, Alpaslan, 2024. "Optimal planning of hybrid power systems under economic variables and different climatic regions: A case study of Türkiye," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:238:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124019736. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.