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IJEETC 2024 Vol.13(1): 33-44
doi: 10.18178/ijeetc.13.1.33-44

Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Hydrogen-Based Micro Hydro-Solar Hybrid Energy System for Sustainable Energy Access: A Case Study in Sri Aman, Sarawak

Millenium Wong1, Hadi N. Afrouzi1,*, Ateeb Hassan1, Elammaran Jayamani1, Jalal Tavalaei1, Jaka Sunarso1, and Kamyar Mehranzamir2
1. Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
2. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
Email: 1012111544101211544@students.swinburne.edu.my (M.W.), hafrouzi@swinburne.edu.my (H.N.A.), ahassan@swinburne.edu.my (A.H.), ejayamani@swinburne.edu.my (E.J.), jtavalaei@swinburne.edu.my (J.T.), jsunarso@swinburne.edu.my (J.S.), Kamyar.Mehranzamir@nottingham.edu.my(K.M.)
*Corresponding author

Manuscript received June 3, 2023; revised September 20, 2023; accepted October 22, 2023; published January 8, 2024.

Abstract—Several rural areas in Sarawak do not have access to electricity. In Sarawak, most investigations prioritize conventional sources despite the emergence of technology such as fuel cells. Furthermore, diversified investigations on stand-alone hybrid renewable energy systems in Sarawak are lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the feasibility of a stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system for rural applications in Sarawak, with a specific focus on the potential benefits of incorporating hydrogen. Different configurations, namely A: Photovoltaic, hydrogen, micro-hydro, B: hydrogen, micro-hydro, C: micro-hydro, D: photovoltaic, and micro-hydro was explored, each with its results, and comparisons were performed between them. By analyzing the system under various load patterns and conducting a sensitivity analysis, the researchers found that scenario A was the most cost-effective and reliable option for a longhouse in Sri Aman, with a net present cost of $148,687, cost of energy of $0.19/kWh, and initial capital of $107,207. Simultaneously, scenario A has the highest annual generating capacity of up to 116521kWh annually. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the electrolyzer could impact the cost of the system. The electrolyzer is the third and second most expensive in scenarios A and B. This research demonstrates the potential of alternative energy sources to improve access to electricity in rural areas. It highlights the importance of continued exploration into emerging technologies to ensure everyone can access safe and reliable electricity.

 
Index Terms—HOMER pro, hybrid renewable energy system, hydrogen, longhouse, micro-hydro, rural electrification, sarawak, solar, techno-economic

Cite: Millenium Wong, Hadi N. Afrouzi, Ateeb Hassan, Elammaran Jayamani, Jalal Tavalaei, Jaka Sunarso, and Kamyar Mehranzamir, "Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Hydrogen-Based Micro Hydro-Solar Hybrid Energy System for Sustainable Energy Access: A Case Study in Sri Aman, Sarawak," International Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering & Telecommunications, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 33-44, 2024. doi: 10.18178/ijeetc.13.1.33-44

Copyright © 2024 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the article is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.