Simulation-Based Analysis of Solar PV-Diesel Hybrid System Upgrades Using Helioscope & HOMER Pro

Abstract

This paper presents a simulation-based case study evaluating proposed upgrades to an existing solar photovoltaic (PV)-diesel hybrid energy system at a remote commercial hatchery in Al Lith, Saudi Arabia. Using HelioScope and HOMER Pro software, three scenarios were analysed: the current PV-diesel system, integration with battery energy storage systems (BESS), and a fully renewable, zero-emission configuration. The techno-economic and environmental assessments indicate that incorporating BESS and expanding rooftop PV capacity (Scenario 1, Option B) offers the optimal path forward, reducing fuel consumption by 23% and carbon emissions by 24% compared to the baseline. This configuration significantly shortens the system’s payback period and reduces the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) to $0.0819/kWh. Although the fully renewable system (Scenario 2) results in zero fuel use and emissions, it is deemed financially and spatially unfeasible due to its high capital cost, land requirements, and large-scale battery storage demands. The results underscore the economic viability of optimized hybrid systems with moderate renewable integration in off-grid or weak-grid contexts. The study also illustrates the critical role of diesel price fluctuations, which significantly affect the economic metrics of hybrid and renewable energy investments. Recommendations are provided for commercial facility operators, researchers, and policymakers, including the utilization of targeted financing schemes such as Saudi Arabia’s Mutjadeda programme. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable energy transitions in remote commercial settings, offering actionable insights for reducing reliance on diesel generation through technically and economically balanced renewable energy solutions.