Least-Cost Sizing and Multi-Criteria Assessment of Hybrid Solar–Wind–Hydrogen Systems Under Climate–Resource Sensitivity Scenarios
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Hybrid renewable energy systems with photovoltaic generation, wind power, battery storage, and hydrogen pathways are becoming increasingly popular in off-grid and weak grid applications as they convert intermittent renewable energy sources into usable energy forms, thus decreasing dependency on fossil fuels. Traditional deterministic approaches to the system size may be unable to consider the risks associated with solar radiation, wind, ambient temperatures, and energy demand evolution due to climate-resource sensitivity analysis. In this research, HOMER Pro was used to apply least-cost sizing and resource availability sensitivity analysis for the sizing of hybrid photovoltaic–wind–battery-hydrogen system under four climate-resource sensitivity scenarios. Four different system layouts were compared based on the HOMER Pro optimization model using several evaluation criteria such as NPC, LCOE, renewable ratio, CO₂ emissions, unmet load ratio, and hydrogen energy production. Four different system layouts were compared based on the HOMER Pro optimization model using several evaluation criteria such as NPC, LCOE, renewable ratio, CO₂ emissions, unmet load ratio, and hydrogen energy production. The most appropriate design layout was identified as a PV-wind-battery-electrolyzer-hydrogen tank-fuel cell system with 900 kW PV, 350 kW wind power capacity, 1.85 MWh battery storage, 240 kW electrolyzer capacity, 520 kg hydrogen capacity and 180 kW fuel cell. At the base scenario, it produced the minimum LCOE equal to 0.246 USD/kWh, NPC of 4.38 million USD, renewable ratio of 98.7%, CO₂ emissions of 18 t/y and unmet load of 0.30%. In case of simultaneous pressure on resources due to climate, the LCOE rose to 0.253 USD/kWh while the unmet load did not exceed 0.43%. Thus, the inclusion of hydrogen allows one to ensure greater resilience compared to systems without hydrogen.
Source: Eng—Advances in Engineering
DOI: 10.3390/eng7110581
Language: English
Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,448
OpenAlex ID: W7170194760