Techno-economic and reliability analysis of a grid connected hybrid microgrid with hydrogen storage for sustainable rural electrification

Abstract This study presents a techno-economic assessment of a grid-connected hybrid renewable energy system designed for rural electrification in Bangladesh. The proposed configuration comprising photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), fuel cell (FC), electrolyzer (EL), hydrogen tank (HT), and battery energy storage system (BESS) is optimized using HOMER Pro software to ensure sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective electricity supply. The optimized system achieves a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of $0.0669/kWh and a Net Present Cost (NPC) of $786,563, with an initial investment of $779,191 and annual Operating cost of $549.82. A renewable fraction of 91.3% and annual CO 2 emissions of 48,159 kg demonstrate significant environmental advantages. The system’s reliability is confirmed by only 0.0169% unmet load and 1.44% excess electricity. Sensitivity analyses on solar irradiance, wind speed, and component costs reveal the economic impact of varying local conditions. Moreover, a correlation matrix evaluates the interdependencies between renewable and storage subsystems, enhancing optimization accuracy. Compared with a conventional PV/BESS setup, integrating hydrogen-based long-term storage improves energy balancing, minimizes curtailment, and ensures stability during grid interruptions. Overall, the hybrid renewable–hydrogen model offers a sustainable and scalable pathway toward resilient rural electrification and energy security.