Open Access

ARTICLE

Techno-Economic Analysis for Hydrogen Storage Integrated Grid Electric Vehicle Charging Bays: A Case Study in Kuching, Sarawak

Jack Kiing Teck Wei¹, Mohanad Taher Mohamed Sayed Roshdy¹, Bryan Ho Liang Hui¹, Jalal Tavalaei¹, Hadi Nabipour Afrouzi^2,*

1 Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching, 93350, Malaysia
2 College of Engineering, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, West Midlands, Birmingham, B4 7XG, UK

* Corresponding Author: Hadi Nabipour Afrouzi. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Artificial Intelligence-Driven Collaborative Optimization of Electric Vehicle, Charging Station and Grid: Challenges and Opportunities)

Energy Engineering 2025, 122(11), 4755-4775. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2025.069980

Received 04 July 2025; Accepted 26 August 2025; Issue published 27 October 2025

Abstract

In this article, a hybrid energy storage system powered by renewable energy sources is suggested, which is connected to a grid-tied electric vehicle charging bay (EVCB) in Sarawak and is examined for its techno-economic effects. With a focus on three renewable energy sources, namely hydrokinetic power, solar power, and hydrogen fuel cells, the study seeks to minimize reliance on the electrical grid while meeting the growing demand from the growing electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. A hybrid renewable energy storage system that combines solar power, hydrogen fuel cells, hydrokinetic power, and the grid was simulated and analyzed. The system design leverages Kuching, Sarawak’s unique geographical and renewable source profile, including abundant hydro and solar potential as well as supportive regional energy policies, to optimize economic and environmental performance. The findings showed that the techno-economic evaluation of the hydrogen storage-integrated EVCB system in Kuching, Sarawak, demonstrates promising performance under current market conditions. The system successfully meets charging demand while generating an annual profit of approximately $51,104.30 through excess energy sales to the grid. Hydrokinetic power dominates generation, contributing 81.4% of the total output, with the hydrogen fuel cell adding a modest 2.84%. The system achieves a cost of electricity of $0.0617/kWh and a Levelized Cost of Hydrogen of approximately $7.33/kg, confirming its economic feasibility. With a total investment of approximately $2.43 million, the hydrogen storage subsystem represents the largest cost share at 55.2% ($1.34 million). A high renewable fraction of 97.2% enhances the system’s sustainability, which is further supported by significant annual emissions reductions of approximately 102,209 kg of carbon dioxide, 8.48 kg of sulfur dioxide, and 43.1 kg of nitrogen oxides. These results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid EVCB exhibits excellent economic and environmental sustainability, making it a viable option for Sarawak’s sustainable electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

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Keywords

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