Design of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System to Meet Housing Thermal Loads: Performance Evaluation Under Real Conditions of a House in Samno Region, Libya

Abstract

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) offer promising prospects for meeting residential heat demand in Libya. This research proposes the design of a hybrid renewable energy system that incorporates solar thermal, biomass, and geothermal energy. The analysis is applied to a realistic residential load case located in the Samno region in southern Libya, taking advantage of the region's unique geography and climate. First, the optimal size of the system components is investigated based on Solargis climate data, biomass energy data, and residential heat load data. The system components are modeled and analyzed using SAM software with the help of Excel and Jupyter Notebook. The results show that the proposed hybrid system is capable of meeting residential heat demand, with an initial capital cost of approximately $3,027 and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of approximately $0.054/kWh. Furthermore, the system contributed to a reduction of 425 kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The results of this work are expected to open new horizons for researchers and planners of hybrid renewable energy systems and their use to reduce the increasing energy demand for thermal loads in urban and rural areas