Sustainable Hybrid Off-Grid Energy Systems for Rural Electrification in the Amazon Region

Although Brazil is in the last mile of achieving universal electricity access, the Amazon region represents the country’s most critical electrification frontier, where remote energy expansion has largely failed to integrate clean alternatives. This study presents the design and techno-economic assessment of a hybrid off-grid microgrid tailored for the Amazon, incorporating a multi-source architecture that combines micro-hydro (MH), wind power (WT), solar photovoltaics (PV), diesel generation (DG), and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Three locations in Amazonas, Roraima, and Tocantins were evaluated under three scenarios: a hybrid system with DG, a fully renewable system without DG, and a green scenario that accounts for demand-side flexibility and selected technical and economic conditions. Optimization was performed using the HOMER tool for a typical isolated community. The hybrid configuration achieved a DG generation share of 0.7 (RSS, DG–WT–PV–MH–BESS), 0.9% (Jalapão, DG–WT–PV–MH–BESS), and 6.8% (Labrea, DG–PV–BESS). The fully renewable scenario resulted in Levelized Cost of Energy (COE) values ranging from 0.146 USD/kWh (RSS) to 0.388 USD/kWh (Lábrea), while the green scenario yielded COEs between 0.089 USD/kWh (RSS) and 0.190 USD/kWh (Lábrea). This study reveals the role of MH in reducing storage requirements, installed capacity, and system cost. The results are promising for presenting a competitive cost of energy.