The paper discusses the design, simulation, and optimization of a solar/diesel hybrid power supply system for a remote station.\nThe design involves determination of the station total energy demand as well as obtaining the station solar radiation data. This\ninformation was used to size the components of the hybrid power supply system (HPSS) and to determine its configuration.\nSpecifically, an appropriate software package, HOMER, was used to determine the number of solar panels, deep-cycle batteries,\nand rating of the inverter that comprise the solar section of the HPSS. A suitable diesel generator was also selected for the HPSS\nafter careful technical and cost analysis of those available in the market. The designed system was simulated using the HOMER\nsoftware package and the simulation results were used to carry out the optimization of the system. The final design adequately\nmeets the station energy requirement. Based on a life expectancy of twenty-five years, a cost-benefit analysis of the HPSS was\ncarried out. This analysis shows that the HPSS has a lower cost as compared to a conventional diesel generator power supply, thus\nrecommending the HPSS as a more cost-effective solution for this application.
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