Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of On-Grid and Off-Grid Renewable Energy Systems for Çanakkale, Türkiye Using HOMER Pro

Abstract

The increasing depletion of fossil fuel resources and their detrimental impact on the environment have heightened the demand for renewable energy sources in the power generation sector. Renewable sources are favored for their sustainability, reliability, and eco-friendliness. This study evaluates the technical and economic viability of both on-grid and off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for Çanakkale, Turkey, using HOMER Pro software. The analysis incorporates solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines, and storage components, assessing key metrics such as Net Present Cost (NPC), Cost of Energy (COE), Operating Cost (OC), and emissions. Results reveal that the on-grid system has an NPC of $25.1M, COE of $0.0257/kWh, and OC of $3.33M, while the off-grid system’s NPC is $9.88M, COE $0.371/kWh, and OC $106.1M. The off-grid system reduces carbon emissions by 99.3% compared to the on-grid system but at higher costs. Annual electricity production for the on-grid system is 77.886.964 kWh, with 69.8% from wind turbines, 29.5% from PV, and 0.8% from the grid. The off-grid system generates 7.813.622 kWh annually, predominantly from PV (76.6%). The findings highlight a trade-off between economic feasibility and environmental sustainability, with the on-grid system offering cost advantages and the off-grid system excelling in emission reductions. This study aids in strategic decision-making for renewable energy
investments.

Cite this article as: N. Pamuk and F. A. Omar, “Techno-economic and environmental assessment of on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems for Çanakkale, Türkiye, using HOMER Pro,” Electrica, 25, 0118, 2025. doi: 10.5152/electr.2025.25118.