Techno-Economic Analysis of Pumped Hydro Storage Hybrid Energy System for Off-grid Residences in Yalova Province

In this study, a hybrid energy system based on photovoltaic (PV), wind, and pumped hydro storage (PHS) was designed and techno-economically analyzed to meet the electricity demand of rural and off-grid residences in Yalova. As an alternative to conventional electrochemical batteries with high investment costs, limited cycle life, and environmental impacts, a water reservoir-based mechanical energy storage approach is proposed. The system was modeled and optimized using HOMER Pro software. During daytime, excess energy generated from renewable sources is used to pump water to an upper reservoir with a head of 20 m, while at night the stored potential energy is converted into electrical energy through a hydro turbine. Simulation results indicate that the system operates with 100% renewable energy, with a Total Net Present Cost (NPC) of 676.453 TL and a Levelized Cost of Energy (COE) of 7.97 TL/kWh. The results demonstrate that PHS integration is a technically and economically feasible solution for small-scale, battery-less hybrid energy systems.