Optimized performance evaluation of a hybrid renewable energy system (photovoltaic–wind–diesel) using HOMER software

Hybrid renewable energy systems play a crucial role in achieving sustainable power generation, particularly in arid regions where reliance on a single renewable source may be insufficient. This study quantifies the economic and environmental tradeoffs between grid-connected and off-grid configurations under Iraq's specific subsidy and intermittency constraints. The research focuses on Karbala, evaluating both configurations using Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources) HOMER (software integrated with stochastic fuel price modeling and policy scenario analysis. On-grid systems achieve a renewable contribution of 37.1% with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.380/kWh and 99.2% emission reduction vs diesel-only baselines, while off-grid configurations require 36% diesel backup during winter months. The findings provide policymakers with a roadmap for subsidy reform and demonstrate that grid-connected hybrid systems maintain economic viability even under worst-case fuel price volatility (95th percentile LCOE: $0.468/kWh). This framework extends beyond standard HOMER outputs to deliver decision-support tools for resource-constrained markets.