A Feasibility Study of Hybrid Hydrokinetic and Solar Power Generation at Bandarban Hill Tracts for Off-Grid Communities

Likely two million people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts live without access to digital technology due to an unreliable electricity supply. Efforts to electrify these hill track areas face significant challenges, including long transmission distances from the grid, a scattered population, and mountainous terrain. This study explores the feasibility of developing a green hybrid energy system incorporating hydrokinetic and solar power to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, particularly Bandarban, where adequate water resources are available. Simulations were conducted using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) to meet the electricity demands of Bandarban. The proposed system includes PV panels, hydrokinetic energy, storage and a converter, with a total Net Present Cost (NPC) of $169,821 and a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of $0.250. The main contribution of this study is to address the electricity needs of the communities along the Sangu River by leveraging its water resources through a hybrid hydrokinetic and solar power model, aiming to create a GHG emission-free solution.