IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v241y2025ics0960148124023541.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Techno-economic feasibility of stand-alone hybrid energy systems for a remote Australian community: Optimization and sensitivity analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Roy, Tushar Kanti
  • Mahmud, Md. Apel
  • Oo, Amanullah Maung Than

Abstract

This research work investigates the techno-economic feasibility and optimal design of stand-alone hybrid energy systems (HESs) for electricity and hydrogen production in a remote Australian community. It evaluates three configurations – PV/BESS, PV/FC/EL/HT, and PV/BESS/FC/EL/HT – incorporating photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery energy storage systems (BESS), fuel cells (FC), electrolyzers (EL), and hydrogen tanks (HT). The systems are assessed based on net present cost (NPC), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), utilizing advanced metaheuristic optimization algorithms and HOMER Pro simulations. The PV/BESS configuration demonstrates the lowest NPC ($888,833) and LCOE ($0.2903/kWh), making it the most cost-effective for electricity generation, but it proves inefficient in utilizing renewable energy due to 54% excess electricity. The PV/FC/EL/HT system emerges as the optimal hydrogen-integrated configuration, achieving an NPC of $964,440.97, an LCOE of $0.3326/kWh, and an LCOH of $6.0264/kg using the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA). Although the PV/BESS/FC/EL/HT configuration offers enhanced operational flexibility, its higher costs, with an NPC of $1,388,303 and LCOH of $8.90/kg, limit its economic competitiveness. Optimization algorithms, particularly CSA, consistently outperform HOMER Pro by achieving up to 20% reductions in NPC and 12% in LCOE through optimized component sizing and interactions. Trade-offs appear with the harmony search algorithm (HSA), which prioritizes hydrogen production and renewable energy utilization at significantly higher costs. The sensitivity analysis reveals that reducing FC and EL capital costs by 50% decreases NPC by 78.64% and LCOE/LCOH by 45.46%, while a 15% increase in solar irradiation reduces NPC by 18% and LCOE/LCOH by 4.08% and 3.72%, respectively. Longer project lifetimes and lower discount rates significantly improve unit cost metrics, with lower financing costs emerging as critical for achieving competitive LCOE (≤ $0.2/kWh) and LCOH (≤ $5–6/kg). These findings underscore the potential for HESs to balance economic and technical objectives through cost optimization, efficient component sizing, and strategic design choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Roy, Tushar Kanti & Mahmud, Md. Apel & Oo, Amanullah Maung Than, 2025. "Techno-economic feasibility of stand-alone hybrid energy systems for a remote Australian community: Optimization and sensitivity analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124023541
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.122286
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124023541
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122286?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. McIlwaine, Neil & Foley, Aoife M. & Morrow, D. John & Al Kez, Dlzar & Zhang, Chongyu & Lu, Xi & Best, Robert J., 2021. "A state-of-the-art techno-economic review of distributed and embedded energy storage for energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    2. Bouendeu, Jean Jacques & Talla Konchou, Franck Armel & Astrid, Medjo Nouadje Brigitte & Elmorshedy, Mahmoud F. & René, Tchinda, 2023. "A systematic techno-enviro-socio-economic design optimization and power quality of hybrid renewable microgrids," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    3. Tayyab, Qudratullah & Qani, Nazir Ahmad & Elkholy, M.H. & Ahmed, Shoaib & Yona, Atsushi & Senjyu, Tomonobu, 2024. "Techno-economic configuration of an optimized resident microgrid: A case study for Afghanistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    4. Superchi, Francesco & Mati, Alessandro & Carcasci, Carlo & Bianchini, Alessandro, 2023. "Techno-economic analysis of wind-powered green hydrogen production to facilitate the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors: A case study on steelmaking," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    5. Aktas, Ilter Sahin, 2024. "Techno-economic feasibility analysis and optimisation of on/off-grid wind-biogas-CHP hybrid energy system for the electrification of university campus: A case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PC).
    6. Uddin, Moslem & Mo, Huadong & Dong, Daoyi & Elsawah, Sondoss, 2023. "Techno-economic potential of multi-energy community microgrid: The perspective of Australia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P2).
    7. Hachicha, Ahmed Amine & Abo-Zahhad, Essam M. & Masmoudi, Malek & Said, Zafar & Rahman, S.M.A., 2024. "Techno-Economic evaluation and multi-objective optimization of a filter equipped solar chimney system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).
    8. El-Maaroufi, Abdellah & Daoudi, Mohammed & Ahl Laamara, Rachid, 2024. "Techno-economic analysis of a PV/WT/biomass off-grid hybrid power system for rural electrification in northern Morocco using HOMER," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    9. Koholé, Yemeli Wenceslas & Wankouo Ngouleu, Clint Ameri & Fohagui, Fodoup Cyrille Vincelas & Tchuen, Ghislain, 2024. "Optimization of an off-grid hybrid photovoltaic/wind/diesel/fuel cell system for residential applications power generation employing evolutionary algorithms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    10. Yadav, Subhash & Kumar, Pradeep & Kumar, Ashwani, 2024. "Techno-economic assessment of hybrid renewable energy system with multi energy storage system using HOMER," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    11. Wang, Jing & Kang, Lixia & Liu, Yongzhong, 2024. "Optimal design of a renewable hydrogen production system by coordinating multiple PV arrays and multiple electrolyzers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    12. Karakoulidis, K. & Mavridis, K. & Bandekas, D.V. & Adoniadis, P. & Potolias, C. & Vordos, N., 2011. "Techno-economic analysis of a stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic-diesel–battery-fuel cell power system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2238-2244.
    13. Islam, M.K. & Hassan, N.M.S. & Rasul, M.G. & Emami, Kianoush & Chowdhury, Ashfaque Ahmed, 2024. "An off-grid hybrid renewable energy solution in remote Doomadgee of Far North Queensland, Australia: Optimisation, techno-socio-enviro-economic analysis and multivariate polynomial regression," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    14. Thomas Longden & Frank Jotzo & Mousami Prasad & Richard Andrews, 2020. "Green hydrogen production costs in Australia: implications of renewable energy and electrolyser costs," CCEP Working Papers 2007, Centre for Climate & Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    15. Upadhyay, Subho & Sharma, M.P., 2015. "Development of hybrid energy system with cycle charging strategy using particle swarm optimization for a remote area in India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 586-598.
    16. Maestre, V.M. & Ortiz, A. & Ortiz, I., 2024. "Sustainable and self-sufficient social home through a combined PV‑hydrogen pilot," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    17. Araoye, Timothy Oluwaseun & Ashigwuike, Evans Chinemezu & Mbunwe, Muncho Josephine & Bakinson, Oladipupo Idris & Ozue, ThankGod Izuchukwu, 2024. "Techno-economic modeling and optimal sizing of autonomous hybrid microgrid renewable energy system for rural electrification sustainability using HOMER and grasshopper optimization algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    18. Sima, Catalina Alexandra & Popescu, Claudia Laurenta & Popescu, Mihai Octavian & Roscia, Mariacristina & Seritan, George & Panait, Cornel, 2022. "Techno-economic assessment of university energy communities with on/off microgrid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 538-553.
    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. Assouo, Thierry & Lontsi, Frederic & Boupda, Orelien & Koholé, Yemeli Wenceslas & Njitacke, Zeric Tabekoueng, 2025. "Modeling and techno-economic study of a hybrid renewable energy power plant for electrification in rural areas with an equatorial climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    2. Araoye, Timothy Oluwaseun & Ashigwuike, Evans Chinemezu & Mbunwe, Muncho Josephine & Bakinson, Oladipupo Idris & Ozue, ThankGod Izuchukwu, 2024. "Techno-economic modeling and optimal sizing of autonomous hybrid microgrid renewable energy system for rural electrification sustainability using HOMER and grasshopper optimization algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Mohtasim, Md. Shahriar & Das, Barun K. & Paul, Utpol K. & Kibria, Md. Golam & Hossain, Md Sanowar, 2025. "Hybrid renewable multi-generation system optimization: Attaining sustainable development goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    4. Duan, Fude & Bu, Xiongzhu, 2024. "Stochastic optimization of a hybrid photovoltaic/fuel cell/parking lot system incorporating cloud model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PC).
    5. Aktas, Ilter Sahin, 2024. "Techno-economic feasibility analysis and optimisation of on/off-grid wind-biogas-CHP hybrid energy system for the electrification of university campus: A case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PC).
    6. Roman, Jacek & Klojzy-Karczmarczyk, Beata & Wróblewski, Robert & Ceran, Bartosz, 2025. "Analysis of the use of waste gasification in a hybrid generation system to supply an industrial demand and power grid through cable pooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    7. Yilmaz, Saban & Dincer, Furkan, 2017. "Optimal design of hybrid PV-Diesel-Battery systems for isolated lands: A case study for Kilis, Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 344-352.
    8. Sawle, Yashwant & Gupta, S.C. & Bohre, Aashish Kumar, 2018. "Review of hybrid renewable energy systems with comparative analysis of off-grid hybrid system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2217-2235.
    9. Ji, Chongxing, 2025. "Design, techno-economic feasibility analysis, and sensitivity study of an off-grid hybrid microgrid for developing communities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    10. Juan Lata-García & Néstor Zamora Cedeño & Gary Ampuño & Francisco Jurado & M. Lakshmi Swarupa & Wellington Maliza, 2024. "Optimization and Evaluation of a Stand-Alone Hybrid System Consisting of Solar Panels, Biomass, Diesel Generator, and Battery Bank for Rural Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    11. Superchi, Francesco & Moustakis, Antonis & Pechlivanoglou, George & Bianchini, Alessandro, 2025. "On the importance of degradation modeling for the robust design of hybrid energy systems including renewables and storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    12. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco, 2022. "Hydrogen Deep Ocean Link: a global sustainable interconnected energy grid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    13. Østergaard, P.A. & Lund, H. & Thellufsen, J.Z. & Sorknæs, P. & Mathiesen, B.V., 2022. "Review and validation of EnergyPLAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    14. Bhatt, Ankit & Sharma, M.P. & Saini, R.P., 2016. "Feasibility and sensitivity analysis of an off-grid micro hydro–photovoltaic–biomass and biogas–diesel–battery hybrid energy system for a remote area in Uttarakhand state, India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 53-69.
    15. Javed, Muhammad Shahzad & Ma, Tao & Jurasz, Jakub & Canales, Fausto A. & Lin, Shaoquan & Ahmed, Salman & Zhang, Yijie, 2021. "Economic analysis and optimization of a renewable energy based power supply system with different energy storages for a remote island," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1376-1394.
    16. Prasasti, E.B. & Joseph, M. & Miao, X. & Zangeneh, M. & Terheiden, K., 2024. "Design of shaft- and rim-driven contra-rotating reversible pump-turbine to optimize novel low-head pumped hydro energy storages," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    17. Riasad Amin & Deepika Mathur & David Ompong & Kerstin K. Zander, 2024. "Integrating Social Aspects into Energy System Modelling Through the Lens of Public Perspectives: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-33, November.
    18. Vasallo, Manuel Jesús & Bravo, José Manuel & Andújar, José Manuel, 2013. "Optimal sizing for UPS systems based on batteries and/or fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 170-181.
    19. Ghosh, Sourav & Yadav, Sarita & Devi, Ambika & Thomas, Tiju, 2022. "Techno-economic understanding of Indian energy-storage market: A perspective on green materials-based supercapacitor technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    20. Maleki, Akbar & Ameri, Mehran & Keynia, Farshid, 2015. "Scrutiny of multifarious particle swarm optimization for finding the optimal size of a PV/wind/battery hybrid system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 552-563.

    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:241:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124023541. 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.