A harmonized multi-software integrated workflow with targeted cross-validation for techno-economic optimization of hybrid renewable microgrids in rural Uganda

Abstract

Reliable and cost-effective electricity access remains a persistent challenge for rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, where diesel-dependent mini-grids impose high operational costs and significant carbon emissions. This study develops a harmonized multi-software integrated workflow incorporating targeted cross-validation of overlapping analytical layers to evaluate hybrid PV–battery–diesel systems for rural electrification in Uganda. Technical and economic inputs were fully standardized across HOMER Pro, PVsyst, SAM, and RETScreen to ensure comparability. Overlapping simulations were conducted to cross-validate photovoltaic performance (PVsyst vs SAM), dispatch and levelized cost metrics (HOMER vs SAM), and financial indicators (SAM vs RETScreen). Results show strong convergence in core technical outputs, with deviations below 3% for PV yield, renewable fraction, and LCOE under harmonized assumptions. Larger variations in financial metrics reflect structural differences in cash-flow modeling engines rather than system performance discrepancies. The optimized hybrid configuration achieves an LCOE of 0.3692 $/kWh, an internal rate of return exceeding 16%, and over 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions relative to diesel-only operation. By combining complementary modeling layers with targeted cross-platform validation, the proposed framework enhances robustness, transparency, and practitioner relevance in decentralized energy planning. The approach offers a transferable methodological template for evidence-based hybrid microgrid deployment in energy-constrained regions.