Reliable electricity access remains a major challenge for rural communities in northern Ethiopia, where grid supply is scarce and unstable. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of an off-grid solar-wind hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with battery storage for the Kara Adishuho community. Local solar resources were assessed using a calibrated Angström-Prescott model, while wind speed data across multiple heights were analyzed with HOMER Pro to optimize system design. The proposed configuration is designed to meet an average daily electricity demand of 1.5 MWh/day, with photovoltaic (PV) panels providing approximately 75% (≈1.125 MWh/day), wind turbines contributing 25% (≈0.375 MWh/day), and a lithium-ion battery bank supplying short-term backup and operational buffering. Resource assessment indicates an average solar potential of 5.61 kWh/m2/day and a mean wind speed of 2.56 m/s at 10 m, corresponding to a wind power density of approximately 12.46 W/m2. Simulation results demonstrate that the hybrid system substantially reduces diesel dependence, achieving estimated annual greenhouse gas savings of ≈7.3 tCO2-eq. Economic evaluation reveals a net present value (NPV) of USD 0.45 million, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 9.5%, and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.42 USD/kWh, which is competitive with diesel-based electricity generation in remote areas. These findings confirm that a battery-supported solar–wind hybrid system offers a technically reliable, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable solution for rural electrification, energy resilience, and fossil fuel reduction in northern Ethiopia.
Gebremariam et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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