Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis

Transitioning to clean energy in off-grid remote locations is essential to reducing fossil-fuel-generated greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable energy growth. While hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES), including multiple renewable energy (RE) sources and energy storage systems are ins...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roksana Yasmin, Md. Nurun Nabi, Fazlur Rashid, Md. Alamgir Hossain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Clean Technologies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/2/36
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849435268767023104
author Roksana Yasmin
Md. Nurun Nabi
Fazlur Rashid
Md. Alamgir Hossain
author_facet Roksana Yasmin
Md. Nurun Nabi
Fazlur Rashid
Md. Alamgir Hossain
author_sort Roksana Yasmin
collection DOAJ
description Transitioning to clean energy in off-grid remote locations is essential to reducing fossil-fuel-generated greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable energy growth. While hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES), including multiple renewable energy (RE) sources and energy storage systems are instrumental, it requires technical reliability with economic efficiency. This study examines the feasibility of an HRES incorporating solar, wind, hydrogen, and biofuel energy at a remote location in Australia. An electric vehicle charging load alongside a residential load is considered to lower transportation-based emissions. Additionally, the input data (load profile and solar data) is validated through statistical analysis, ensuring data reliability. HOMER Pro software is used to assess the techno-economic and environmental performance of the hybrid systems. Results indicate that the optimal HRES comprising of photovoltaic, wind turbines, fuel cell, battery, and biodiesel generators provides a net present cost of AUD 9.46 million and a cost of energy of AUD 0.183, outperforming diesel generator-inclusive systems. Hydrogen energy-based FC offered the major backup supply, indicating the potential role of hydrogen energy in maintaining reliability in off-grid hybrid systems. Sensitivity analysis observes the effect of variations in biodiesel price and electric load on the system performance. Environmentally, the proposed system is highly beneficial, offering zero carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, contributing to the global net-zero target. The implications of this research highlight the necessity of a regional clean energy policy facilitating energy planning and implementation, skill development to nurture technology-intensive energy projects, and active community engagement for a smooth energy transition. Potentially, the research outcome advances the understanding of HRES feasibility for remote locations and offers a practical roadmap for sustainable energy solutions.
format Article
id doaj-art-641af3a301a7474a9b82bc58d93caa84
institution Kabale University
issn 2571-8797
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Clean Technologies
spelling doaj-art-641af3a301a7474a9b82bc58d93caa842025-08-20T03:26:21ZengMDPI AGClean Technologies2571-87972025-04-01723610.3390/cleantechnol7020036Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental AnalysisRoksana Yasmin0Md. Nurun Nabi1Fazlur Rashid2Md. Alamgir Hossain3School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, AustraliaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi 6204, BangladeshQueensland Micro-and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaTransitioning to clean energy in off-grid remote locations is essential to reducing fossil-fuel-generated greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable energy growth. While hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES), including multiple renewable energy (RE) sources and energy storage systems are instrumental, it requires technical reliability with economic efficiency. This study examines the feasibility of an HRES incorporating solar, wind, hydrogen, and biofuel energy at a remote location in Australia. An electric vehicle charging load alongside a residential load is considered to lower transportation-based emissions. Additionally, the input data (load profile and solar data) is validated through statistical analysis, ensuring data reliability. HOMER Pro software is used to assess the techno-economic and environmental performance of the hybrid systems. Results indicate that the optimal HRES comprising of photovoltaic, wind turbines, fuel cell, battery, and biodiesel generators provides a net present cost of AUD 9.46 million and a cost of energy of AUD 0.183, outperforming diesel generator-inclusive systems. Hydrogen energy-based FC offered the major backup supply, indicating the potential role of hydrogen energy in maintaining reliability in off-grid hybrid systems. Sensitivity analysis observes the effect of variations in biodiesel price and electric load on the system performance. Environmentally, the proposed system is highly beneficial, offering zero carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, contributing to the global net-zero target. The implications of this research highlight the necessity of a regional clean energy policy facilitating energy planning and implementation, skill development to nurture technology-intensive energy projects, and active community engagement for a smooth energy transition. Potentially, the research outcome advances the understanding of HRES feasibility for remote locations and offers a practical roadmap for sustainable energy solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/2/36renewable energyhydrogen energyphotovoltaicfuel cellwind turbinebiodiesel generator
spellingShingle Roksana Yasmin
Md. Nurun Nabi
Fazlur Rashid
Md. Alamgir Hossain
Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
Clean Technologies
renewable energy
hydrogen energy
photovoltaic
fuel cell
wind turbine
biodiesel generator
title Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
title_full Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
title_fullStr Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
title_short Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
title_sort solar wind hydrogen and bioenergy based hybrid system for off grid remote locations techno economic and environmental analysis
topic renewable energy
hydrogen energy
photovoltaic
fuel cell
wind turbine
biodiesel generator
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/2/36
work_keys_str_mv AT roksanayasmin solarwindhydrogenandbioenergybasedhybridsystemforoffgridremotelocationstechnoeconomicandenvironmentalanalysis
AT mdnurunnabi solarwindhydrogenandbioenergybasedhybridsystemforoffgridremotelocationstechnoeconomicandenvironmentalanalysis
AT fazlurrashid solarwindhydrogenandbioenergybasedhybridsystemforoffgridremotelocationstechnoeconomicandenvironmentalanalysis
AT mdalamgirhossain solarwindhydrogenandbioenergybasedhybridsystemforoffgridremotelocationstechnoeconomicandenvironmentalanalysis