Building a Greener Future: A Techno‐Economic Assessment of Renewable Configurations for Energy Independence and the Net‐Zero Transitions in a Community Microgrid

Reliable and sustainable energy is fundamental to socio‐economic development; however, Pakistan faces persistent energy challenges due to rising demand and heavy reliance on costly and environmentally harmful fossil fuels, particularly in Balochistan. Given Gwadar's abundant solar irradiation and wind resources, this study evaluates the feasibility of achieving a net‐zero energy city through three renewable‐based power system configurations using solar, wind, and battery storage. Model 1, relying solely on solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and batteries, yields a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.441/kWh, with a total net present cost (NPC) of $182 million. Model 2, integrating solar, wind turbines, and batteries, reduces the LCOE to $0.320/kWh, with an NPC of $133 million. Model 3 incorporates solar, wind, and a diesel generator, offering the lowest LCOE of $0.219/kWh and an NPC of $90.7 million. While Model 1 is the most environmentally sustainable, it has the highest LCOE and NPC. Model 3 ensures the highest reliability with the lowest LCOE and NPC at the expense of environmental impact due to diesel. The payback rate for Model 1 is 6.2 years; for Model 2, it is 7.79 years; and Model 3 has the lowest payback rate of 4.62 years. This study provides a comprehensive techno‐economic analysis, identifying optimal solutions for Gwadar's energy requirements, which can be replicated in similar off‐grid areas.