Optimization and Operation of Stand-alone Hybrid PV/Biomass/Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Energy System in Iraq

Isolated load is considered a popular case and especially in the remote or rural areas in which diesel generators are used to cover the demand with special care of their environmental impact. This paper introduces an off-grid hybrid system (PV/Biomass/Hydroelectric Pumped Storage) as a study case in Iraq which is considered a clean, inexhaustible, and reliable energy system to achieve the sustainable and development targets. In this work, Atom Search Optimization (ASO) algorithm has been utilized to determine the optimal configuration of the hybrid system. The optimal sizing is determined from the economic point of view that achieving minimum Net Present Cost (NPC) for the whole system by using a real-time load demand information and meteorological data of a certain location in Iraq.