Off-grid hybrid photovoltaic-diesel-battery power systems for commercial sector of Yanbu Saudi Arabia - a potential solution for carbon-free environment and to mitigate challenges of global warming

The study includes techno-economic evaluation using hybrid-PV-diesel-battery-power systems (HPVDBPS) to fulfil commercial-electrical load of Yanbu (Industrial-hub, K.S.A.) by analysing long-term solar-radiation regime (with annual load of 620 MWh). The monthly-average-daily global-solar-radiation of Yanbu lies in between 3.61 and 7.90 kwh per sq.m. HOMER has been used to achieve the objectives by simulations. The results show that PV-fraction is 24% for HPVDBPS comprised of 80 kWp PV with 175 kW diesel system and three hours of battery storage. The energy generation price (COE, $/kWh) from this HPVDBP is 0.170 $ per kWh and the annual reduction in carbon emissions is 154 tons. This implies that HPVDBP is a potential solution to damp the threats of global warming. Also, about 25% savings in fuel can be achieved by using the above HPVDBPS compared to stand-alone diesel case. The investigation has also examined impact of PV-fraction on various other parameters.