Published Paper Details:

Access to reliable and affordable energy remains a major challenge in rural and remote regions of India, where grid extension is often economically unfeasible. Many households and small enterprises still rely on diesel generators for agriculture, businesses, lighting, water supply, education, and healthcare. While diesel provides short-term relief, it is costly, inefficient, and environmentally unsustainable. Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES), combining solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, and battery storage with conventional backup, present scalable and cost-effective alternatives. These systems reduce fossil fuel dependency, strengthen energy security, and support socio-economic development. However, challenges such as intermittency of renewable resources, limited reliability, inadequate maintenance frameworks, and financial barriers hinder their widespread adoption. This paper reviews HRES design, technologies, and applications in off-grid and grid-connected contexts, with India as a case study. It identifies lessons from successful and failed projects and recommends solutions to enhance reliability, optimize configurations, and develop supportive policies.