ABSTRACT

Electricity being an integral part of modern age technology, is an imperative element for
sustainable development. Off grid hybrid power system is an attractive method to supply

electricity to rural areas, especially for communities living far away from the main grid, where
grid extension is not possible. In this thesis report, a PV-biogas-diesel generator hybrid system
has been modeled for the people of 100 houses in the Nijhum Dwip which is a small island
under Hatiya Upazilla of Chittagong district. (Latitude: 21°01′ to 22°06′ north, Longitude:
90°03′ to 91°04′ east). The island is under developed and lacks the electricity supply from the
main grid due to its remote location. The PV-biogas-diesel generator hybrid system makes use
of biogas and solar power to generate major portion of the electricity as both solar irradiation
and biomass is abundant in the island and it provides a green solution to the electricity
shortage. The diesel generator is used to meet the energy demand at night which cannot be
met by the renewable energy alone.

Techno-economic analysis of the hybrid energy system is employed by using Hybrid

Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software. HOMER simulated different
configurations of the hybrid system and arranged them according to least Net Present Cost
(NPC). Solar-PV modules (rated rate 92.7kW), biogas generators (rated rate 30kW), diesel
generators (rated rate 25kW), batteries (rated rate 83.4Ah) and 18.7kW converter is found to
be the best configuration in terms of Cost of Energy (COE), environmental conditions and
Renewable Fraction (RF). The Cost of Energy (COE), Net Present Cost (NPC), capital cost of this
configuration is found $.182, $384571, and $96617 respectively. The renewable fraction of
this system is found 98% which indicates a lower emission compared with the grid based
system and stand-alone diesel system. Although the COE is higher than grid electricity, this
system offers a cheaper option than using kerosene oil and solar home systems (SHSs).