Optimization and Comparative Assessment of Battery and Pumped Hydro Storage in Hybrid PV/Wind Systems for Coastal Off-Grid Electrification in Egypt

: The growing need for sustainable electrification of remote off-grid communities has increased interest in hybrid renewable energy systems that integrate multiple generation sources with energy storage technologies. This study conducts a comparative techno-economic and environmental evaluation of two hybrid renewable energy configurations designed to meet the residential electricity demand of Al-Qulaan village, located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The proposed systems combine photovoltaic (PV) and wind generation with either battery energy storage systems (BESS) or pumped hydro storage (PHS). An optimization framework based on mathematical models and an aeroelastic-based wind turbine model was employed to optimally size the hybrid system components while minimizing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) under a zero loss of power supply constraint (LPS = 0). The results indicate that the PV/WT/BESS configuration achieves the lowest electricity cost, with an LCOE of 0.316 $/kWh, while the PV/WT/PHS configuration results in a slightly higher LCOE of 0.367 $/kWh. From an environmental perspective, both configurations significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieving more than a 97% reduction compared to electricity supplied from the conventional grid. These findings indicate that BESS provides a more cost-effective solution, while PHS remains a competitive alternative, particularly for projects with longer operational lifetimes.