Design of renewable energy-based hybrid microgrids and energy management with homer

In this thesis study, the technical and economic feasibility of hybrid microgrid (MG) systems based on renewable energy sources was evaluated to meet the energy demands of different consumer groups. Using the HOMER Pro software, two different MG configurations were designed and analyzed: one off-grid system for a rural area and one grid-connected system for a hospital. In the rural application, a hybrid MG consisting of photovoltaic (PV) panels, a wind turbine (WT), a fuel cell (FC), a battery storage system (BSS), a hydrogen tank (HT), a converter, and an electrolyzer was developed. The system was optimized based on local meteorological conditions and sample electricity consumption data from a rural area in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. The total annual energy production of the system was calculated as 117,240 kWh, with a net present cost (NPC) of $361,922 and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.464/kWh. In the hospital application, a hybrid MG system was designed not only to meet electricity demands but also to supply medical oxygen. In this configuration, hydrogen generated during the electrolysis process was stored for later use in the FC, while the oxygen, typically released into the atmosphere, was recovered and stored to meet the hospital's oxygen demand. The grid-connected system included PV, RT, FC, BSS, and HT components. Simulation results showed that the system produced 8,372 kg of hydrogen and approximately 66,460 kg of oxygen per year. The economic indicators revealed an NPC of $1,342,409 and an LCOE of $0.09745/kWh. The findings demonstrate that renewable-based hybrid MG systems are technically viable and economically sustainable in the long term. Particularly in critical infrastructures such as hospitals, integrated solutions that address both energy and oxygen supply can enhance operational security and reduce dependence on external logistics. Keywords: Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, Microgrid, Oxygen, CO2, NPC, LCOE