Optimal Design of Low-cost and Reliable Hybrid Renewable Energy System Considering Grid Blackouts

Fast-growing load demand, environmental issues, high network losses, and low reliability are the main factors to penetrate hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) to the electrical grid. HRESs are able to provide an eco-friendly and cost- efficient alternative to conventional energy systems. This paper provides a feasibility study for grid-connected electrification of a residential area located at Suhag city, Egypt. Different hybridization scenarios of solar, wind, diesel, and converter technologies are modelled, analyzed and compared in terms of their technical, economic and environmental indices. Grid blackouts and intermittent nature of renewable resources are also modelled and investigated in order to obtain the optimal design of the hybrid energy system with the least cost and high-reliability level. The simulation results show that solar/wind/diesel grid-connected system is the best configuration for the investigated area with least system cost. Also, the total load demand is successfully served by the proposed system topology with realistic carbon emission and zero capacity shortage.