Optimal sizing of a biomass-biogas hybrid system for sustainable power supply to a commercial agricultural farm in northern Odisha, India

Renewable energy is clean, reliable and is the best alternatives for supplying electricity to remote and inaccessible areas. A study was conducted to optimise the components of biomass-biogas system to meet the electrical need of a remote agricultural farm in Mayurbhanj district of northern Odisha, India (Latitude 21 degrees 41 ' N, Longitude 86 degrees 47 ' E). The technoeconomics of the biomass-biogas hybrid system was studied by using a software tool HOMER and compared with the calculation made by straightline method. It was found from HOMER that a 12 kW biomass system in combination with a 3 kW biogas system is the optimum combination for the farm. The levelised cost of energy of the system was found to be $1.204/kWh with net present cost of $244,263.