Simulation, Optimization, and Techno-Economic Assessment of 100% Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Electrification in Eastern Morocco

Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs) can be an effective and sustainable way to provide electricity for remote and rural villages in Morocco; however, the design and optimization of such systems can be a challenging and difficult task. In this context, the objective of this research is to design and optimize different (HRESs) that incorporate various renewable energy technologies, namely Photovoltaics (PVs), wind turbines, and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), whereas biomass generators and batteries are used as a storage medium. Overall, 15 scenarios based on different HRES configurations were designed, simulated, and optimized by the HOMER software for the site of Ain Beni Mathar, located in eastern Morocco. Furthermore, the potential CO2 emissions reduction from the different scenarios was estimated as well. The results show that the scenario including PVs and batteries is most cost-effective due to favorable climatic conditions and low costs. In fact, the most optimal HRES from a technical and economic standpoint is composed of a 48.8 kW PV plant, 213 batteries, a converter capacity of 43.8 kW, and an annual production of 117.5 MWh with only 8.8% excess energy, leading to an LCOE of 0.184 USD/kWh with a CO2 emissions reduction of 81.7 tons per year, whereas scenarios with wind turbines, CSP, and biomass exhibit a higher LCOE in the range of 0.472–1.15 USD/kWh. This study’s findings confirm the technical and economic viability of HRESs to supply 100% of the electricity demand for rural Moroccan communities, through a proper HRES design.