Hybrid Solar System Study for Orang Asli Community at Kg Sungai Tiang, Gerik Perak

Abstract

The Orang Asli community in Kg Sg Tiang faces significant challenges related to the environmental impact of diesel generators and the instability of energy supply due to geographical barriers preventing grid access. Reliance on diesel not only causes environmental degradation but also imposes an economic burden, highlighting the urgent need for a more sustainable energy solution. Despite the critical importance, there has been limited research on integrating renewable energy sources for electricity in remote areas of Perak. This study investigates the feasibility of an off-grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) for the community using HOMER software to optimize various configurations integrating solar PV, batteries, hydrogen systems, and diesel generators. The optimal configuration, PV-diesel-battery, was identified with a Net Present Cost (NPC) of $805,299, a levelized cost of energy (COE) of $0.189/kWh, and a renewable energy fraction of 92.9%. Configurations including hydrogen further reduced emissions but required higher capital costs, with a COE of $0.23/kWh and an NPC of $979,535. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the PV-diesel-battery configuration remains cost-effective even under 40% load growth. This study fills the gap in research on HRES for Malaysian rural communities and provides a scalable model for sustainable electrification, balancing cost, environmental impact, and reliability.