Optimization and design to catalyze sustainable energy in Morocco’s Eastern Sahara: A hybrid energy system of PV/Wind/PHS for rural electrification

Abstract

This paper conducts a comprehensive assessment of the potential of water, solar, and wind resources for sustainable energy generation. The study is situated in a Moroccan region within eastern Saharan Africa. It presents a detailed comparative analysis between a photovoltaic system (PV) integrated with a pumped hydro storage (PHS), a wind turbine, and a conventional grid, considering both energy production and economic analysis using HOMER software. Moreover, the paper provides an initial social impact assessment of hybrid energy systems integrating locally available water resources, especially during the winter season, alongside photovoltaic and wind technologies. This evaluation delves into aspects of rural electrification and community development. The findings underscore the potential of sustainable energy solutions to drive economic and social progress in the studied area by harnessing the region’s water resources. We proposed this technology because the owners of the area do not greatly benefit from the seasonal groundwater that passes through the valley, despite the presence of a dam. Accordingly, we will exploit this water to generate energy and achieve energy self-sufficiency. By harnessing this underutilized resource, we aim to provide sustainable energy solutions and drive economic and social progress in the region. The results given by HOMER identify the most cost-effective system capable of serving the load at the lowest cost of energy (COE) of about $0.03831 and net present cost (NPC) of about $262,596 under the modeled conditions, and the most satisfactory system chosen by the HOMER optimizer is a PV/Wind/PHS-based hybrid energy system.