Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Standalone Photovoltaic System Configurations for Off-Grid Applications

The growing need for sustainable energy in offgrid locations has led to hybrid standalone photovoltaic (SAPV) systems with battery storage as a significant renewable energy choice. This research evaluates four configurations of SAPV systems: solar-only, solar with generator, solar with wind turbine, and solar with both wind and generator, designed to meet a daily energy consumption of 6.2 kWh at Pulau Kapas, Terengganu. The configurations were assessed using HOMER Pro, focusing on technical, economic, and environmental performance, while incorporating meteorological data, rural demand profiles, and system sizing. Results suggest that although SAPV with wind turbines incurred the highest initial costs, SAPV with generators demonstrated to be the most cost effective and reliable option, achieving complete demand fulfilment. The solar-only system saw a 2.79 % unmet load due to the insufficient sunlight. The SAPV and SAPV with wind configurations reached a 100 % renewable fraction, they faced challenges related to reliability and elevated costs. The configuration that integrates solar, wind, and generator sources achieves an optimal balance, yielding a renewable fraction of 60.5 % while maintaining high reliability. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive framework for decision-making in implementing off-grid renewable energy systems that emphasize the trade-offs among cost, reliability, and sustainability.