Managing Excess Energy in Hybrid Energy Systems Using a MATLAB-HOMER Integrated Grid-Export Strategy for LCOE Reduction
International Journal of Energy Research, cilt.2026, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2026 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1155/er/9184277
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Energy Research
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: energy management strategy, grid export, hybrid renewable energy system, LCOE, managing excess energy, MATLAB-HOMER integration
- Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Hybrid energy systems that integrate renewable generation with conventional resources often experience periods of excess energy production, leading to curtailment, reduced economic performance, and further several technical and operational issues that may harm the energy system. This study investigates a grid-export strategy as an effective approach for managing surplus energy in hybrid energy systems and evaluates its impact on overall system economics. Two HOMER Pro configurations are compared: case I included an off-grid (solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and diesel generator [DG]), and case II included an on-grid (solar PV, wind, DG, and grid) configuration. The main methodological contribution is the MATLAB-HOMER coupling: HOMER performs sizing and technoeconomic optimization, while a MATLAB dispatch file controls hourly energy flow according to load demand, renewable output, battery state of charge (SOC), diesel backup requirements, and export of remaining surplus energy. The results found that the hybrid energy systems are optimally configured and reliability is ensured with an achieved 0.04% unmet load and 0.016% shortage capacity. PV and wind jointly supplied 44.6% of annual production, while the DG supplied 55.4%, indicating reliable operation but continued fuel dependence. The excess energy of the off-grid hybrid energy system in case I accounted to be 14,529 kWh/year, representing 14.7% of annual production and $0.756/kWh levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The excess energy was effectively treated in the on-grid hybrid energy system in case II through export to the grid, achieving zero excess energy, generating $772.43/year in export credit, and lowering the LCOE to $0.648/kWh, a 14.3% reduction, reinforcing the system’s economic feasibility and operational sustainability. Converting excess renewable energy to usable energy led to improved renewable fraction (RF) from 30.2% in case I to 41.1% in case II, whereas diesel fuel consumption and battery utilization remain unchanged. Sensitivity analysis of the optimal on-grid case II confirmed the robustness of the proposed strategy, showing strong dependence on renewable resources and fuel prices while remaining economically viable under uncertainty. The findings highlight the importance of grid-interactive operation in hybrid energy system design and provide practical insights for policymakers and system planners seeking to enhance economic sustainability while supporting higher renewable energy integration.