Comparative Analysis of Hydrokinetic Energy, Photovoltaic, and Diesel Generator Systems for Sustainable Rural Electrification

Off-grid electricity generation using renewable energy technologies is a sustainable solution for rural electrification. This study aimed to compare the economic feasibility, technical performance, and environmental impact of hydrokinetic energy, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and diesel generators (DG). Using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER), key parameters such as Net Present Cost (NPC), Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), energy production, and carbon emissions were analyzed. The results showed that hydrokinetic energy was the most cost-effective and sustainable option, with the lowest NPC (RM 478,562.00) and LCOE (RM 2.52/kWh), while also generating the highest energy output (<tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$38,006 \text{kWh} /$</tex> year). The PV system, despite being an emissions-free solution, had the highest NPC (RM <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$1,206,905.00$</tex>) and LCOE (<tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\text{R M} 6.37 / \text{k W h}$</tex>), making it less economically viable. The DG system, though reliable with zero unmet load, had a high operational cost (NPC: RM 609,174.10; LCOE: RM <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$3.91 / \text{kWh}$</tex>) and emitted <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$27,827 ~\text{kg}$</tex> of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\text{CO}_{2}$</tex> annually, highlighting its environmental drawbacks. The study concludes that hydrokinetic energy is the most viable solution for rural electrification in regions with abundant water resources, offering an optimal balance between affordability, reliability, and sustainability, while PV remains limited by high capital costs and DG by fossil fuel dependence and environmental impact.