Optimal design and operation of grid-connected hybrid microgrid system using pelican optimization algorithm

This study presents an optimal grid-connected hybrid microgrid framework aimed at addressing persistent power reliability challenges in educational institutions across developing regions, with a rural university campus in West Bengal, India, serving as the case study. Frequent grid outages have led to a heavy reliance on diesel generators, resulting in elevated energy costs ₹11.74/kWh (≈ USD 0.14/kWh) and high annual CO₂ emissions (650.37 metric tons). To overcome these issues, a hybrid system architecture combining solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines (WT), and existing diesel generator (DG) infrastructure is proposed. Component sizing is optimized using the recently developed Pelican Optimization Algorithm (POA), which demonstrates superior convergence characteristics and solution quality. Simulation results based on real meteorological and load data confirm that the integrated PV-WT-DG-grid system achieves a 42% reduction in energy cost, lowering the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) to ₹6.82/kWh (≈ USD 0.082/kWh), while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions by 83%, down to 109.72 metric tons/year. The findings highlight POA's suitability for microgrid design under real-world conditions and emphasize the economic and environmental viability of renewable-dominated hybrid systems. The proposed approach provides a replicable and vendor-oriented model for institutions in similar resource-constrained settings, offering valuable insights for policymakers and energy planners working toward reliable, low-carbon energy solutions in weak-grid or remote areas.