Citation: Alhawsawi, E.Y.; Habbi, H.M.D.; Hawsawi, M.; Zohdy, M.A. Optimal Design and Operation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Oakland University. Energies 2023, 16, 5830. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155830 Academic Editors: Ikhlaq Hussain, Marif Daula Siddique and Mukul Chankaya Received: 16 July 2023 Revised: 1 August 2023 Accepted: 2 August 2023 Published: 6 August 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). energies Article Optimal Design and Operation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Oakland University Edrees Yahya Alhawsawi 1,2, * , Hanan Mikhael D. Habbi 1,3 , Mansour Hawsawi 1 and Mohamed A. Zohdy 1 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA; hananhabbi@coeng.uobaghdad.edu.iq (H.M.D.H.); hawsawi@oakland.edu (M.H.); zohdyma@oakland.edu (M.A.Z.) 2 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Effat University, Jeddah 21478, Saudi Arabia 3 Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 10071, Iraq * Correspondence: ealhawsawi@oakland.edu; Tel.: +1-305-755-0171 Abstract: This research paper presents a comprehensive study on the optimal planning and design of hybrid renewable energy systems for microgrid (MG) applications at Oakland University. The HOMER Pro platform analyzes the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of integrating renewable energy technologies. The research also focuses on the importance of addressing unmet load in the MG system design to ensure the university’s electricity demand is always met. By optimizing the integration of various renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), energy storage system (ESS), combined heat and power (CHP), and wind turbine energy (WT), the study aims to fulfill the energy requirements while reducing reliance on traditional grid sources and achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed MG configurations are designed to be scalable and flexible, accommodating future expansions, load demands changes, and technological advancements without costly modifications or disruptions. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of technical, economic, and environmental factors and addressing unmet load, this research contributes to advancing renewable energy integration within MG systems. It offers a complete guide for Oakland University and other institutions to effectively plan, design, and implement hybrid renewable energy solutions, fostering a greener and more resilient campus environment. The findings demonstrate the potential for cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions, providing valuable guidance for Oakland University’s search for energy resilience and environmental surveillance, which has a total peak load of 9.958 MW. The HOMER simulation results indicate that utilizing all renewable resources, the estimated net present cost (NPC) is a minimum of USD 30 M, with a levelized energy cost (LCOE) of 0.00274 USD/kWh. In addition, the minimum desired load will be unmetered on some days in September. Keywords: combined heat and power; energy storage; hybrid renewable energy; microgrid; solar PV; wind energy 1. Introduction With the rapid growth of globalization, the demand for power has significantly in- creased. Consequently, there is a growing dependence on various power sources, leading to environmental impacts, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions reduction and associated costs, emphasizing the sustainable nature of the microgrid (MG) [1]. This has prompted many countries to prioritize investment in alternative energy sources. Renewable energy solutions, such as solar and wind power, have gained significant attention as fossil fuel reserves diminish and their consumption continues contributing to environmental pollu- tion. The attractiveness of renewable energy lies in its potential to provide sustainable and clean power generation while mitigating the harmful effects of traditional energy sources. The load frequency control associated with renewable energy integration was addressed, Energies 2023, 16, 5830. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155830 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies