Iran, Islamic Republic of
Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Off-Grid Electrification: A Comprehensive Review of Storage Technologies, Metaheuristic Optimization Approaches and Key Challenges
Nov 2025
Publication
Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs) are a practical solution for providing reliable low-carbon electricity to off-grid and remote communities. This review examines the role of energy storage within HRESs by systematically comparing electrochemical mechanical thermal and hydrogen-based technologies in terms of technical performance lifecycle cost operational constraints and environmental impact. We synthesize findings from implemented off-grid projects across multiple countries to evaluate real-world performance metrics including renewable fraction expected energy not supplied (EENS) lifecycle cost and operation & maintenance burdens. Special attention is given to the emerging role of hydrogen as a long-term and cross-sector energy carrier addressing its technical regulatory and financial barriers to widespread deployment. In addition the paper reviews real-world implementations of off-grid HRES in various countries summarizing practical outcomes and lessons for system design and policy. The discussion also includes recent advances in metaheuristic optimization algorithms which have improved planning efficiency system reliability and cost-effectiveness. By combining technological operational and policy perspectives this review identifies current challenges and future directions for developing sustainable resilient and economically viable HRES that can accelerate equitable electrification in remote areas. Finally the review outlines key limitations and future directions calling for more systematic quantitative studies long-term field validation of emerging technologies and the development of intelligent Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven energy management systems within broader socio-techno-economic frameworks. Overall this work offers concise insights to guide researchers and policymakers in advancing the practical deployment of sustainable and resilient HRES.
Assessing the Impact of Integration of Hydrogen Blending from Municipal Solid Waste and Biomass with Gas Turbine on Performance of Traditional Coal Power Plants
Oct 2025
Publication
Producing hydrogen from municipal solid waste (MSW) presents a transformative and sustainable solution for waste management. This paper presents a system that integrates MSW gasification with a traditional coal power plant (TCPP) along with biomass gasification and a gas turbine. It also incorporates a water recovery Rankine cycle (RC) that utilizes flue gas for electricity generation making it a key strategy for cleaner energy and effective waste disposal. The study examines three scenarios: MSWHIRBGT1 MSWHIRBG and MSWHIRBGT2. In the MSWHIRBGT2 electricity generation reaches 877 MW. This achievement results from the injection of hydrogen from MSW gasification into the TCPP boiler combined with advanced biomass technologies and flue gas recovery from TCPP. MSWHIRBGT2 achieves energy and exergy efficiencies of 46.9 % and 43.05 % making it the optimal choice for enhancing power generation in future energy solutions. All scenarios resulted in reduced CO2 emissions compared to a conventional coal-fired power plant of the same capacity highlighting the proposed system’s contribution to a cleaner environment. Furthermore the impact of different percentages of injected hydrogen on the concentrations of CO CO2 H2 H2S SO3 and SO2 in the flue gas is analyzed. Results show that higher hydrogen injection reduces CO by 81 % and H2 by 94 % while increasing SO3 and CO2 levels by 96 % and 39 % respectively. This demonstrates the environmental benefits of the technologies being implemented.
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