Feasibility Assessment of Rural Hybrid Microgrid Using Canal-Based Microhydel Resources: A Case Study of Renala Khurd Pakistan

Water canal networks that are widely used for irrigation an equally good source of micropower generation to be fed the nearby areas. A practical example such a system is micro-hydro at Renala Khurd Pakistan integrated with national grid known as hydro–grid configuration. Apart from rare hydro example, solar photovoltaic mainstream network, i.e., PV-Grid configuration, used. The operation combinations primary distributed sources has different operational attributes in terms economics and reliability needed quantified before installation. So far, various have been simulated their accumulative impact on project reported. detailed economic assessment configurations sustainable cost-effective configuration selection. This study proposes trigeneration combination solar–hydro–grid optimal sizing scheme reduce cost. genetic algorithm based formulation developed using fixed variable systems number pre-defined constraints. hydro–grid, solar–grid, grid–hydro–solar HOMER Pro software analyze impact, undertake assessments under project. Finally, values provided search space simulating It was revealed net present cost (NPC) hydro-to-grid 23% lower than whereas NPC without 40% solar–grid grid–solar–hydro 36% 50.90% solar–grid–hydro algorithm, 17.1% grid–solar thus proving utilization integration feasible solution areas where hydropower available.