Optimum sizing of hybrid renewable energy system with biomass backup of Egypt’s Western Desert

This paper presents an optimized design of an off-grid microgrid capable of fulfilling the year-round power demands of a remote area in Egypt. The proposed system combines photovoltaic, Wind Turbine (WT), backed by batteries, and biomass technologies to ensure consistency and eco-friendliness with fewer pollutants. A comprehensive analysis using HOMER Pro software was utilized to identify the optimum design, considering the energy demand, renewable resource availability, and net present cost (NPC) of the system. The results show that the optimal design includes a solar Photovoltaic (PV) system, WT, backed up by batteries, and a stand-by biomass generator (BIOMG). The design can significantly decrease reliance on conventional energy sources and promote the growth of renewable energy in the region. This study is considered the cheapest model in this configuration (PV, WT, Batteries, BIOMG) if compared to previous studies in the same location through a total NPC of USD3,483,519.00and the best cost of energy (COE) of USD0.118. Additionally, the proposed system decreases emissions that contribute to global warming with a GHG of 28,516 tons/year. A sensitivity analysis of the uncertainty of renewable resources and economics has been conducted. The sensitivity analysis illustrates the variety of results.