Assessment of Grid-Connected, Hybrid-Energy Systems with Conventional and Emerging Energy Storage in Meeting Energy Target 2050

As the world faces the dual challenges of climate change and rising energy demands, renewable energy sources have become a necessity. The global energy mix is projected to have renewables contribute 63% of the total primary energy supply by 2050, a significant increase from 14% in 2015 This transition relies on advancements in energy storage technologies, which are a key solution to solve one of the main issues of renewable sources, which is intermittency. This study aims to develop and optimize hybrid energy storage systems in Malaysia, combining hybrid renewable energy resources with energy storage technologies. The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis of five scenarios, followed by sensitivity analysis on the optimal configuration. The optimal system consists of a grid-connected solar PV and hydropower system with SunPower E20-327 panels and a zinc bromide flow battery as the energy storage system. This system achieved a renewable fraction of 82.8%, a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.057 USD/kWh, and a return on investment (ROI) of 4.4%. The optimal system also demonstrated a 12.1-year payback period. The SunPower PV-only case achieved a CO2 reduction of 5918 kg/year. When the zinc bromide battery was included, the optimized PV-battery case achieved reductions of 6797 kg/year CO2, 29.5 kg/year SO2, and 14.4 kg/year NOx. These findings support the feasibility of hybrid systems in contributing to Malaysia’s Energy Target 2050 and provide a framework for future energy storage solutions.