Abstract
The inclusion of storage systems in renewable-based energy systems is a promising option to boost the reliability of power supply for offgrid communities. A major consideration is the cost and performance of the selected storage system. This study investigates different energy storage combinations to form a hybrid energy storage system (HESS). The goal is to exploit the complementary characteristics of each storage system. The effects of system degradation on energy output and replacement costs over a 20-year period are analysed and used in obtaining the Levelised Cost of Hybrid Energy Storage Systems (LCOHESS); which can be used as a basis for comparing the techno-economic benefits of different HESS configurations. The model is run with data for a community in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa, to show the best HESS option that could be deployed by rural electrification planners and investors, based on the value of LCOHESS obtained.