Hybrid renewable energy systems for a remote community in a high mountain plateau

A hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) is a promising power system for supplying electricity to remote communities. In this paper, four configurations of HRESs with energy storage have been designed and optimized in hybrid optimization model for electric renewable (HOMER) software for a remote community of Balnasari Qani village in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, upon on-site visit to determine the required electrical load and available energy resources. The site is located in a high mountain plateau and has potential to set up off-grid HRESs using solar, wind, and biomass resources. The optimized system is proposed to meet the electricity demands for 300 families. Results indicated that a HRES consisting of solar photovoltaic–biomass–diesel is the most optimal solution. This system is able to provide electricity at a levelized cost of 0.340 $/kWh with a net present cost of 411,491 $. Sensitivity analysis with parametric studies on the primary load suggested wind might not be a suitable energy source at the location.