DOI: https://doi.org/10.61435/ijred.2025.61344

Hybrid renewable energy system design for a green port using HOMER Pro: A techno-economic assessment

1Institute of Postgraduate Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

2Communist Review Organ of Political Theory of Vietnam, Communist Party's Central Committee, Viet Nam

3Academy of Politics Region II, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Received: 15 Jan 2025; Revised: 10 May 2025; Accepted: 22 May 2025; Available online: 7 Jun 2025; Published: 1 Jul 2025.
Editor(s): H Hadiyanto
Open Access Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Maritime plays an important role in the national economy since a large number of goods in the world are transported by sea, although maritime transport is found to generate the largest greenhouse gas emission among transportation means. For maritime activities, the port is considered the key chain in logistics, thus, the transformation of ports into sustainable energy centres has emerged as a major need in the worldwide initiative to decarbonize marine activities. This research provides a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) for Thi Nai Port, Vietnam, utilizing HOMER Pro software. The suggested system seeks to eradicate dependence on fossil fuels by including solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, a biogas generator, and sophisticated battery storage, therefore providing operational robustness. Simulation outcomes demonstrate that an ideal configuration, consisting of a 6,175-kW photovoltaic array, a 500-kW biogas generator, and a 2,357-kW converter, results in a net present cost of 44.6 million USD and a levelized cost of energy of 0.394 USD/kWh. Renewable sources constitute 100% of the installed and operational capacity, with yearly carbon dioxide emissions diminished to a modest 1,286 kg. The research verifies that hybrid renewable solutions may provide competitive economic returns, with a payback period of eight to ten years, while delivering substantial environmental advantages. The study portrays Thi Nai Port as a scalable paradigm for green port transformation, offering a repeatable framework for other mid-sized ports in Southeast Asia pursuing sustainable energy solutions.

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Keywords: Green Port; Sustainability; Homer Pro; Techno-economic assessment; Renewable energy; Optimization

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Section: Original Research Article
Language : EN
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