Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis of a Biomass Based Hybrid Renewable Energy System for an Off-Grid Livestock Facility

In this study, a biomass-based hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) combining photovoltaic (PV) panels, a biogas generator, and battery storage was designed and optimized to meet the electricity demand of an off-grid livestock facility located in northern Diyarbakır, Turkey. The analysis was performed using HOMER Pro software, incorporating technical, economic, and environmental evaluations. The system was configured with 43.9 kW PV, a 50 kW biogas generator, battery storage, and a converter, supplying a daily load of 165 kWh entirely from renewable sources. Annual energy production reached 90,866 kWh, achieving a 100% renewable fraction. The system’s Net Present Cost (NPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) were determined as $289,055 and 0.2326 $/kWh, respectively, confirming its strong economic competitiveness. Sensitivity analyses revealed that solar radiation was the most influential factor affecting system economics, where increased irradiance improved cost efficiency by approximately 7–8%. Variations in biomass price produced moderate effects of around 3%, while energy demand and nominal discount rate had secondary yet measurable impacts. The environmental assessment indicated a 99.97% reduction in CO₂ emissions, with the hybrid configuration achieving near-zero greenhouse gas output and only negligible levels of SO₂, NOₓ, and CO. Furthermore, the grid extension analysis demonstrated that beyond a 14.6 km distance, the off-grid HRES becomes more cost-effective than extending the utility grid. Overall, the results confirm that integrating solar and biogas energy provides a technically reliable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable solution for rural electrification in regions with high solar potential and strong agricultural livestock activity.