The growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy sources, coupled with concerns over greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel depletion, necessitates the development of hybrid renewable energy systems that can ensure energy security, improve efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. This study addresses the need for integrated renewable solutions by investigating the energy performance and economic feasibility of a hybrid system that combines photovoltaic (PV) panels, parabolic trough collectors (PTC), and a lab-scale biomass-fired steam power plant. The primary objective is to optimize system performance while minimizing fuel consumption and operational costs. The proposed system includes a PTC unit, a 4.6 kW PV array, a 6.4 kW biomass-powered DC generator, three 3 kWh batteries, and a 3 kW converter. Energy assessment was conducted through experimental measurements supported by simulation and optimization using HOMER and PVsyst software. Results show that the integration of PV panels reduced biomass fuel consumption by approximately 70%, leading to a 50% reduction in operational costs over a 10-year period. The system achieved a favorable payback period of just 2.2 years. These findings highlight the viability of hybrid PV–PTC–biomass systems as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for clean energy generation in decentralized or off-grid applications.
(PDF) Performance analysis of a hybrid PV–PTC system integrated with a biomass-fired steam power plant