Basic design and cost optimization of a hybrid power system for rural communities in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a mountainous country with a significant amount of snow during the winter and once it melts the water runs into rivers, lakes and streams. Therefore it does not face any shortage of running water during the year. Also, Afghanistan has plentiful wind and solar energy potential. Therefore, small hydro-power, wind turbines and solar energy are attractive renewable energy sources for remote communities. The development of such a hybrid power system is a complex process. This paper will give an insight into design, cost-effectiveness and feasibility of a hybrid power system using Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) with two different scenarios in order to encourage private investors and local community people to take advantage of this potential available in Afghanistan and ensure sustainability of investments in micro-hydro power, wind and solar.