Design and optimization of grid-connected hybrid renewable energy systems with EV integration for supermarkets

The integration of renewable energy into the energy and transport sectors is essential for optimizing sustainability and reducing emissions in commercial infrastructure. This paper suggests designing a grid-connected hybrid power system, comprising photovoltaic (PV), wind, and battery storage, to power supermarkets in Dakhla, Casablanca, and Fez, with the addition of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the supermarkets' parking lots. Using Homer Grid software, the system's configurations were optimized based on Moroccan utility tariffs and regional climate data. The best configuration at Dakhla—107 kW PV, 300 kW wind, 12 batteries, and 65-kW inverter—realized a 71.66 % renewable energy fraction (REF), cost of energy (COE) of $0.0841 USD/kWh, and with annual operating costs of $0.124 million. The optimized hybrid systems achieved a renewable energy fraction (REF) of 71.66 % in Dakhla, 52 % in Casablanca, and 55 % in Fez, with corresponding costs of energy (COE) of 0.089, 0.097, and 0.094 USD/kWh. Annual CO₂ reductions reached 3450 tons in Dakhla, 2960 tons in Casablanca, and 3180 tons in Fez, based on the 2022 Moroccan grid baseline (0.72 kg CO₂/kWh). These avoided emissions are equivalent to approximately 530 metric tons per supermarket per year. Sensitivity tests identified a high sensitivity of economic viability to wind speed, solar irradiance, and carbon price. The system also exhibited greater than 20 % lifetime cost savings under high-renewable conditions. These findings confirm the feasibility of grid-connected HRES for commercial use in developing economies with both environmental and economic advantages in line with Morocco's clean energy and transportation goals. • Grid-connected PV–wind–battery systems power Chinese supermarkets with EV charging. • Optimized HRES achieves 54–61 % renewable energy fraction across major cities. • Cost of energy remains below 0.10 USD/kWh under Chinese tariffs. • Annual CO₂ reductions exceed 500 t per supermarket on average. • Sensitivity analysis confirms strong viability under high-renewable scenarios.