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Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (Solar PV – Battery - Grid) For Hostel Buildings Using MATLAB/Simulink
1 Professor, Electrical Engineering, Dr. Subhash University, School of Engineering & Technology, Gujarat, India. 2 Electrical Engineering, Dr. Subhash University, School of Engineering & Technology, Gujarat, India.
Published Online: January-April 2026
Pages: 24-32
A steady and uninterrupted supply of electricity is necessary in hostel buildings to sustain some of the most crucial facilities, including lighting, ventilation, water pumping systems, security systems, and other facilities. Nevertheless, the high reliance on grid power subjects’ hostels to issues of power outages, rising rates, and the emission of carbon dioxide due to the production of power from fossil fuels. This project aims at designing and analysing a hybrid system of renewable energy that is applicable in hostel buildings. The hybrid scheme proposed combines solar photovoltaic generation as a main renewable power source, the reliability of the battery energy storage, and the load balancing, and the backup supply is provided by the grid. Wind energy and diesel generation can also be discussed as optional sources to support the hybrid idea and provide a more robust system. Modelling and simulation are done through MATLAB R2023B and Simulink, in which input profile development, energy balance logic, battery state of charge control and grid switching mechanisms are done systematically. To have a realistic load profile that reflects the daily demand pattern with a morning peak and an evening peak, a 24-hour hostel load profile was developed that shows a total energy requirement of 614kWh/day. The solar PV generation technique was modelled on an assumed irradiation curve, and the behaviour of the batteries was assessed on SOC limits between 0.20 and 0.90. The outcome of the simulation proves that the renewable priority operation can mitigate grid reliance, enhance the reliability of power supply, and maintain stable performance of the battery with the SOC-driven operations. GRID power is turned on when the SOC of the battery is low and when renewable generation is unavailable, so that there is regulated backup power consumption.
