Optimization of off-grid renewable energy systems using a hybrid version of golden search algorithm.

Currently, the development of HRESs (hybrid renewable energy systems) in remote areas is of great importance and popularity. However, measuring and optimizing the capacity of these systems faces a difficult challenge. Multiple works had been reported in the literature to optimize such systems, all of which aim to achieve an optimal configuration with minimum annual net cost. Therefore, the significance of providing off-grid electrification to remote areas through HRESs can be highlighted as a crucial case for sustainable growth. Accordingly, the study proposes a modified metaheuristic approach, known as the Hybrid Golden Search Algorithm (HGSA), for long-term application planning and optimization of the off-grid HRES. The aim of this algorithm is to minimize the amount of net cost which is used annually; to reduce the probability of power supply interruption. In order to assess the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, a simulation study over a long period on a remote area was conducted. From the results, increasing the reliability level from 1 % to 3 % causes a decrease in the total net annual cost by around 7.3 % under the proposed HGSA and also results in a reduction in component size (around 6 % and 21 % reductions for the wind turbine area and storage tanks, respectively). Further, the HGSA technique obtains the lowest value of fitness function for the hybrid system at a reliability level of 3 %, which is 31,539,810$. This result demonstrates that the efficiency of HGSA outperforms Fuzzy Logic and Optimization, Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), and GSA techniques. Based on this, the proposed HGSA could lead to more promising results than the other comparative algorithms. Hence, the proposed HGSA can be a valuable tool for long-term application planning and optimization of off-grid HRES, which can contribute significantly to achieving sustainable development goals.