Feasibility Analysis and Development of Stand-Alone Hybrid Power Generation System for Remote Areas: A Case Study of Ethiopian Rural Area

Abstract

This paper proposed a standalone solar/wind/micro-hydro hybrid power generation system to electrify Ethiopian remote areas that are far from the national utility grid. The aim is that it will lead to the development of renewable energy sources, using a hybrid optimization model for energy renewables (HOMER) as an optimization and sensitivity tool and MATLAB as a design tool. The system uses 100% renewable energy. This system incorporated solar photo-voltaic (PV), wind turbines, micro-hydro systems, and battery systems. The net present cost of the system is $4,377,731, incorporating capital depreciation and levelized operation and maintenance costs. During the hybrid energy system’s lifetime, the cost of a grid extension power supply is $22.185 million, which is nearly $17,808,000 more than the cost of the proposed standalone system. So, developing solar/wind/micro-hydro hybrid power generation will save $17,808,000 versus extending the national utility grid. As a result of a thorough examination of renewable energy resources, standalone solar, wind, and micro-hydro hybrid power generation is a technically and economically viable option for the case study area of Maji town.