Techno-economic optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems for green hydrogen production and rural electrification

This research addresses a critical challenge in modern hybrid energy systems by examining how the integration of renewable generation, storage, and electrolysis can jointly support rural electrification and green hydrogen production. Although many studies report techno-economic outcomes for hybrid systems, the literature often treats electricity delivery and hydrogen production separately and does not sufficiently explain how long-duration storage and grid interaction improve operational flexibility under variable resource conditions. To address this gap, this study evaluates an integrated hybrid architecture that combines photovoltaic generation, wind generation, pumped hydro energy storage, grid exchange, and water electrolysis to meet local electricity demand while producing green hydrogen from surplus renewable electricity. The research method is a techno-economic optimization performed in HOMER Pro, where feasible configurations are simulated at an hourly resolution, and the optimal design is selected by minimizing the net present cost (NPC) under operational constraints. System performance is then assessed using economic indicators, hydrogen supply capability, and carbon impact, and robustness is examined through sensitivity analysis on the dominant renewable resource parameters. The results indicate that coupling long-duration storage with hybrid renewables increases the usability of surplus electricity, reduces curtailment, and limits reliance on grid imports compared with a more grid-dependent supply strategy. The selected configuration achieves a levelized cost of electricity of 0.08525 $/kWh and an NPC of 45.70 M$, while supplying an average hydrogen demand of about 2424 kg/day and reducing annual CO 2 emissions by approximately 130,287 tons. Overall, the proposed integration demonstrates a cost-competitive pathway to deliver reliable electricity and green hydrogen within a single coordinated system. • The hybrid microgrid optimizes electric and hydrogen systems for efficiency. • It integrates solar, wind, pumped hydro, and hydrogen storage for rural electrification. • The system reduces energy costs to $0.08525/kWh, produces 2424 kg of hydrogen daily, and cuts CO 2 by 130,287 tons annually. • Optimized renewable energy capture improves system performance. • The model supports sustainable rural energy and economic stability.