Optimal distributed PV system assessment for renewable energy based microgrid application in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: The growing global energy demand, particularly in large public infrastructures, necessitates a transition toward more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions. This study investigates a large load profile of Makkah railway station to identify the optimal system that minimizes cost and environmental impact while maintaining energy reliability. Two hybrid renewable configurations are proposed: (1) Grid-connected Photovoltaic (PV/grid) and (2) PV/battery/grid. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software was used to carry out the study. Simulation results reveal that the PV/grid system is the most effective configuration, achieving a Net Present Cost (NPC) of 27.9 million USD and a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 0.0755 USD/kWh. This setup ensures 0% unmet load

SUBMITTER: Binmahfouz MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12578987 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature