Technical and Economic Analysis of a Grid-Connected Hybrid Energy System for an Industrial Facility in Turkey Using HOMER

Abstract

Rising energy costs and strict carbon emission regulations worldwide are driving energy-intensive industrial facilities to seek alternative solutions. In this study, a grid-connected hybrid energy system was designed to meet the electricity demand of a medium-sized industrial facility located in Çerkezköy, Tekirdağ, one of Turkey's major industrial zones. The study is based on a realistic production scenario with a daily average energy consumption of 1500 kWh and a peak load of 214,76 kW. Techno-economic analyses were performed using HOMER Pro software to simulate combinations of Solar (PV), Wind, and Grid. Optimization results indicate that the most feasible system configuration consists of a 241 kW photovoltaic array, seven 10 kW wind turbines, and a grid connection. In this system, where the grid serves as virtual storage instead of high-cost battery systems, 68,8% of the annual energy demand is met entirely by renewable sources. Economic analyses show that the proposed hybrid system reduces the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) from the grid price of $0,120/kWh to $0,0837/kWh. The payback period of the system is calculated as 8,4 years, with a Return on Investment (ROI) of 7,2%. These findings demonstrate that wind and solar-supported hybrid systems are both economically and environmentally viable for industrial facilities in the Çerkezköy region.