Uncertainty‐aware thermo‐economic and exergo‐environmental analysis of a solar–biomass <scp>ORC</scp> – <scp> sCO <sub>2</sub> </scp> hybrid system

Abstract Renewable hybrid polygeneration systems are gaining increasing attention due to their potential to provide high efficiency, dispatchable energy supply, and reduced environmental impacts. In this study, an uncertainty‐aware thermo‐economic and exergo‐environmental analysis of a solar–biomass hybrid polygeneration system integrating an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and a supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) Brayton cycle is presented. A steady‐state thermodynamic model of the system was developed in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) environment, and system performance was evaluated through energy, exergy, economic, and environmental indicators while considering parameter uncertainties using Monte Carlo simulation. The results indicate that the hybrid ORC–sCO 2 configuration achieves an energy efficiency of 41.2% and an exergy efficiency of 43.8%, outperforming standalone cycle configurations. Exergy destruction analysis shows that heat exchangers contribute 34% of the total irreversibilities, followed by the biomass combustion unit with 28%. The thermo‐economic assessment reveals a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of 58 $/MWh, corresponding to approximately 20% cost reduction compared to conventional single‐cycle systems. Furthermore, the exergo‐environmental analysis indicates a low environmental impact coefficient (EI) of 0.21 and an estimated reduction of approximately 65,000 t CO 2 ‐eq per year. These findings demonstrate the potential of solar–biomass hybrid polygeneration systems as an efficient and environmentally sustainable pathway toward low‐carbon energy systems. The system includes an 18,000 m 2 solar field and a biomass feed rate of 0.65 kg/s, demonstrating the feasibility of hybrid renewable polygeneration for dispatchable clean energy production.

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Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Published
2026-04-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.70462
Primary Topic
Thermodynamic and Exergetic Analyses of Power and Cooling Systems
Type
article
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article

Uncertainty‐aware thermo‐economic and exergo‐environmental analysis of a solar–biomass ORC – sCO 2 hybrid system

Ahmet Elbir
Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Thermodynamic and Exergetic Analyses of Power and Cooling Systems
article

Uncertainty‐aware thermo‐economic and exergo‐environmental analysis of a solar–biomass ORC – sCO 2 hybrid system

Ahmet Elbir
article en

Abstract

Abstract Renewable hybrid polygeneration systems are gaining increasing attention due to their potential to provide high efficiency, dispatchable energy supply, and reduced environmental impacts. In this study, an uncertainty‐aware thermo‐economic and exergo‐environmental analysis of a solar–biomass hybrid polygeneration system integrating an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and a supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) Brayton cycle is presented. A steady‐state thermodynamic model of the system was developed in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) environment, and system performance was evaluated through energy, exergy, economic, and environmental indicators while considering parameter uncertainties using Monte Carlo simulation. The results indicate that the hybrid ORC–sCO 2 configuration achieves an energy efficiency of 41.2% and an exergy efficiency of 43.8%, outperforming standalone cycle configurations. Exergy destruction analysis shows that heat exchangers contribute 34% of the total irreversibilities, followed by the biomass combustion unit with 28%. The thermo‐economic assessment reveals a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of 58 $/MWh, corresponding to approximately 20% cost reduction compared to conventional single‐cycle systems. Furthermore, the exergo‐environmental analysis indicates a low environmental impact coefficient (EI) of 0.21 and an estimated reduction of approximately 65,000 t CO 2 ‐eq per year. These findings demonstrate the potential of solar–biomass hybrid polygeneration systems as an efficient and environmentally sustainable pathway toward low‐carbon energy systems. The system includes an 18,000 m 2 solar field and a biomass feed rate of 0.65 kg/s, demonstrating the feasibility of hybrid renewable polygeneration for dispatchable clean energy production.

Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi (TR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 22%
Thermodynamic and Exergetic Analyses of Power and Cooling Systems
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