Design, techno-economic feasibility analysis, and sensitivity study of an off-grid hybrid microgrid for developing communities

Abstract

Providing a consistent energy supply to remote communities continues to be a substantial challenge. The majority of remote areas, particularly Tiba in Luxor City, Egypt, have extremely limited access to reliable energy sources. This paper is an attempt to design and evaluate a stand-alone microgrid that includes a variety of renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, photovoltaics, and digestion plants. The data utilized in this study is derived from resource assessments of the Tiba region, which is abundant in renewable energy potential, including favorable wind conditions and accessible bioresources for digestion. To evaluate performance, sensitivity analysis was conducted on critical techno-economic parameters, such as cost, energy production, and resource availability, over a 20-year operations cycle. The results obtained suggest that the hybrid microgrid system is technically feasible and economically viable, with a levelized cost of electricity of 0.1158 $/kWh and a net present cost of 6,894,772 $. The photovoltaics contribute approximately 48.4 % of the energy, while the wind turbines contribute 45.6 %. The digestion plant contributes approximately 6 % of the energy. According to these results, hybrid systems of this nature could be crucial in the provision of sustainable and resilient energy solutions in comparable regions. Policy implications include suggestions for promoting the development of renewable energy-driven microgrids to increase energy security and advance sustainable development in remote regions.