A Sustainable Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Standalone Sub-Saharan African Areas—A Case Study in Zambia

This study assesses a hybrid photovoltaic/wind/diesel/battery-based renewable energy system in an off-grid area in Zambia. System performance was evaluated through simulation using different photovoltaic panel ratings, battery types, and dispatch strategies. Using the predictive dispatch strategy, the lowest-cost option was a combination of 445 W photovoltaic panels and Li-ion batteries, which had an estimated net present cost of approximately USD 3.857 million over a project lifetime of 25 years, yielding a unit energy cost of USD 0.151/kWh. This system was 73% less expensive than one using a diesel generator, with a 96.4% decrease in emissions and a 95% renewable fraction. Sensitivity analysis revealed that changes in battery price have the greatest impact on operating costs at approximately 12%. The combined methodology using HOMER Pro®Version 3.18 for optimization and MATLAB/Simulink Version R2024b for partial verification of the PV sub-system provides a reproducible framework that can be tailored to other regions facing similar energy challenges. Beyond techno-economic optimization, this study informs sustainable rural electrification planning by evaluating reliability, cost, affordability, lifecycle emissions, and diesel reduction while supporting energy access and climate-resilient off-grid policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.