Economic and Energy Feasibility of Hydrogen-Powered Hybrid System for Rural Electrification

For the past decade, Pakistan has faced a significant power shortage, with the available installed capacity falling short of the rising energy demand. This persistent challenge has led to prolonged daily power outages, lasting up to 12 hours in urban areas and 18 hours in rural regions, with projections suggesting a worsening scenario. The energy deficit is adversely affecting the nation’s economy, causing considerable harm. This research aims to design a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) to provide consistent electricity to a remote village in the Bannu district of Pakistan. The proposed system integrates photovoltaic panels (PV), biogas generator (BG) and fuel cells (FC) to address the energy crisis. The study highlights the economic feasibility and sustainability of the designed HRES, offering a practical solution to ensure a reliable energy supply. Comprehensive analyses, including sensitivity, robustness and breakeven evaluations, demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in delivering uninterrupted power. The results indicate a total net present cost (TNPC) of ${\$}$199,081 and a cost of energy (COE) of ${\$}$0.41/kWh. Furthermore, the study compares the proposed system’s performance with contemporary alternatives, underlining its potential for widespread application.