Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

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Heliyon
journal homepage: www.cell.com/heliyon

Research article

Improved chaos grasshopper optimizer and its application to

HRES techno-economic evaluation
Min Zhang a, Heng Lyu b, c, Hengran Bian d, **, Noradin Ghadimi e, *
a
The School of Artificial Intelligence, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641000, Si chuan, China
b
Guangzhou Huali College, Guangdong, 511300, Guangzhou, China
c
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonbur, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand
d
Institute of Strategy Research for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070,
China
e
Young Researchers and Elite Club, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch, Ardabil, Iran

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Current political and economic trends are moving more and more toward the use of renewable
Improved chaos grasshopper optimizer and clean energy as a result of rising energy use and diminishing fossil fuel supplies. In this paper,
Techno-economic evaluation an improved chaos-based grasshopper optimizer used for techno-economic evaluation in inte­
Integrated green power systems
grated green power systems is investigated. The integrated system consists of a fuel cell system, a
Wind
Fuel cell
wind farm, and solar energy. The integrated solar, wind, and hydrogen fuel cell architectures
increase the effectiveness and electrical output of the system while needing less energy storage in
structures that are unconnected from the grid. The grasshopper optimization technique and chaos
theory have been combined to create the suggested chaotic grasshopper optimizer in this study.
The performance, precision, and robustness of this optimization were then assessed, using four
benchmark tasks. The ICGO model is utilized to assign suitable ratings to all system devices,
thereby guaranteeing the attainment of optimal performance and efficiency. The Net Present Cost
(NPC) analysis revealed that the ICGO algorithm attained the lowest minimum NPC value of
274.541E4 USD and the highest maximum NPC value of 311.94E4 USD. The average NPC value of
the ICGO algorithm (289.176E4 USD) was found to be comparable to the other algorithms
examined in the study. These findings indicate that the ICGO algorithm outperformed other
optimization algorithms in minimizing the cost of the renewable energy system. The chaotic
grasshopper optimizer can handle several targets, restrictions, and variables with ease, and the
results demonstrate that it is substantially more efficient and precise than standard optimization
techniques. It is also quite durable, with minimal performance degradation as compared to the
benchmark solutions. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the chaos grasshopper opti­
mizer as an HRES technique.

1. Introduction

Since the world’s supply of fossil fuels is running out, there is an urgent need for alternative energy sources [1]. Alternative energy

* Corresponding author.
** Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: b18092100321@cityu.mo (H. Bian), nghadimi1985@gmail.com (N. Ghadimi).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24315
Received 28 May 2023; Received in revised form 26 December 2023; Accepted 6 January 2024
Available online 12 January 2024
2405-8440/© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

sources provide a practical solution to this problem since they can decrease the environmental damage caused by coal and petroleum
fuels, while yet being able to supply the growing demand for energy among people [2]. Using fewer fossil fuels is required due to the
issue of global warming among other things [3]. To fulfill the world’s expanding energy requirements and to lessen the environmental
damage that fossil fuels do, alternate sources of energy must be discovered [4].
The world is currently experiencing a catastrophic energy crisis as a result of a sharp decline in the supply of fossil fuels. Due to the
scarcity of coal and petroleum fuels, there is a need for substitute energy resources to both address the existing environmental damage
that these fuels create and the rising demand for energy throughout people [5]. Utilizing alternative energy sources can help lessen the
negative impacts of combustion on the atmosphere and bring us toward a more sustainable method of generating energy. The pressing
necessity to switch to alternate energy sources is further underscored by the problem of worldwide warming today and other envi­
ronmental concerns.
The global capacity of renewable energy has grown significantly, reaching 2799 GW by the end of 2020, a 45 % increase from the
previous decade. This expansion has led to significant reductions in carbon emissions, with renewable energy sources helping to
mitigate around 2.6 gigatons of CO2 emissions in 2019. The cost competitiveness of renewable energy technologies has also improved,
with solar photovoltaic systems that decreased by 82 % between 2010 and 2020. The renewable energy sector has also played a crucial
role in job creation, employing around 12 million people globally in 2019, a 5.3 % growth from the previous year. Investment in
renewable energy reached 303.5 billion USD in 2020, with solar and wind energy being the largest contributors. These statistics
highlight the progress made in the renewable energy sector, emphasizing its role in addressing climate change, creating employment
opportunities, and attracting substantial investments.
Integrated clean energy systems combine two or more green energy resources, like sun, fuel cell, and wind to provide an energy
supply that can last forever [6]. Integrated clean energy systems are a plentiful, dependable, and economical sources of energy that can
help lessen reliance on traditional energy sources [7]. They may also be customized for almost any application because of their
modular, scalable architecture, and from powering a single home to massive power systems [8]. The different advantages of integrated
clean energy systems will be covered in this study paper, along with an analysis of the state of the technology today [9].
A major trend in energy generation is the utilization of solar and wind systems. Compared to conventional energy sources, wind
turbines and solar panels provide a number of benefits, particularly in terms of economic growth and environmental efficiency [7].
One major advantage is that the two energy sources complete one another. In other words, solar panels often reach their highest output
in the summer, whilst wind turbines typically provide higher output during the winter [10]. This indicates that increased efficiency
and cost reductions frequently result from the usage of these two technologies together [11].
The usage of solar panel, wind, and fuel cell technology has grown recently because of their simple installation, maintenance-free
operation, and lack of environmental impact. Despite these benefits, these off-grid solutions continue to be expensive to implement,
usually unreliable, and impossible to anticipate in terms of energy supply [12]. They are, therefore, not appropriate for off-grid ap­
plications and frequently result in energy waste. This paper will cover the consequences of applying these technologies in off-grid
settings as well as their drawbacks in comparison with more established ones and potential remedies [13].
To achieve its energy needs, the globe is relying more and more on renewable energy sources [14]. This complies with the
movement of worldwide against climate change and lessens reliance on fossil fuels like oil [15]. In order to optimize effectiveness and
power with the least amount of investment, it is critical to understand how to choose the appropriate size for an installation.
Renewable energy sources have several restrictions [16]. This is referred to as optimum sizing. The optimal sizing of green systems
explores the concept’s theoretical underpinnings and real-world applications [17].
Organizations can accomplish technical and financial optimization with the use of optimizer and measurement techniques. These
instruments’ ultimate objective is to offer the finest cost-reliability ratio that is possible. Because it enables businesses to increase
performance while minimizing losses of system’s failure, reliability is crucial [18]. Cost, on the other hand, is equally significant
because it aids businesses in lowering overall expenses while delivering dependable performance. Therefore, while applying opti­
mization and measurement methodologies, it is crucial for enterprises to have the best possible balance between system’s depend­
ability and cost [19].
The two most crucial elements that must be taken into account while optimizing a system are system’s dependability and cost.
While having a dependable system is essential for assuring the system’s long-term performance and endurance, system’s cost may play
a significant role in deciding whether or not to approve the project since it can severely restrict the resources that can be used.
Therefore, getting the intended optimization outcomes depends on having a clear knowledge of how a system’s cost and dependability
are related [20].
It is crucial to take this into account while developing a system since it helps to ensure the long-term functionality and the system’s
dependability. Over the long run, a dependable system will be more error-resistant and capable of handling more jobs [21]. On the
other hand, another important aspect that must be considered while optimizing a system is system’s cost, which encompasses both the
project’s initial expenditures and ongoing expenses [22]. Because system’s cost is the single biggest factor restricting the amount of
resources that may be used, optimization solutions must take both system’s dependability and the project’s financial resources into
account.
In the past decade, switching to sources of clean electricity from fossil fuels has gained popularity. This is because it is now un­
derstood that burning fossil fuels leads to the release of greenhouse gases and has several negative environmental effects. So as to lessen
their carbon impact, several nations and businesses have shifted to renewable energy. Designing a disconnected grid system that
combines several energy sources is one of the most effective ways to produce power from green energy sources.
Kelepouris et al. [23] proposed a way to size photovoltaic and battery energy saving units for structures with demand-side
managing ability. They defined three cost functions to measure the building’s self-sufficiency, net-present investment cost in BESSs

2
M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

and PV as well as their integration. The combination function provided economical solutions that could be beneficial in situations with
high electricity costs in the future. Two analysis techniques were established to discover the optimum result with a strategy of load
shifting that is predefined. The first technique involved an exhaustive searching all potential integrations of BESS and PV capacity, but
it was computationally expensive. The second technique used a Particle Swarm Optimizer (PSO) variant, the PSO that is unified, to
guide analysis algorithms towards effective results with less time of computation. The two models’ comparison for industrial and
residential sites found that the PSO provided optimum results with less execution time.
Ma and Yuan [24] evaluated and compared two hybrid systems of PV (PV/hydrogen and PV/battery) in terms of Net Annual Cost
(NAC) and power supply probability. MATLAB’s PSO was utilized for optimizing the hybrid PV, battery, and hydrogen configuration
with up to thirty independent implementations and the finest outcome was informed. This was tested with real meteorological data,
and the effects of reliability of system, runs’ number, and rate of interest on the design’s outcomes for both considered systems were
evaluated. It was discovered that the system of PV and battery was more economical in regions with low power reliability and
high-interest rates. Furthermore, the total capacity of sun panel in the PV and battery arrangement was lower (about 44.8%) than those
in the PV and hydrogen arrangement. In addition, the NAC decreased by 2.2 % and 0.23 % when the number of runs increased from 1
to 20 for the PV and hydrogen as well as PV and battery, respectively.
The work of Shaojie et al. [25] demonstrated how photovoltaics, battery storage, and Electric Vehicles (EVs) can be used to satisfy
the electrical power needs of gymnasium buildings. The study’s results showed that when the photovoltaic (PV) generation was equal
to the building’s energy consumption, and the capacity of battery was 2.7 times of the mean load of building on daily bases, the load
cover ratio could reach 0.95. Furthermore, the proposed EV charging strategy was shown to reduce the system’s topmost energy by
about 51.68 % of the ranked load energy on a usual day, whenever the production of PV was 1.4 times of the use of energy, and the
capacity of battery was 66% of the mean building load on daily basis. The represented work offered useful guidance on the operation
and arrangement of PV systems and EVs for gyms to facilitate green power utilization as well as zero-carbon activities.
Shankar et al. [26] had given a gift - an approach that was both informed by Energy Tariffs and multi-objective ones in nature. They
developed three objective functions based on Energy Tariff Incentives (ETI) in order to achieve the optimum size of PV-battery units for
buildings located in tropical savanna climates. The first objective function sought to minimize the possibility of energy supply loss,
thereby ensuring energy security and reliability. The second function focused on the leveled energy cost, served as an indicator of
power affordability. Lastly, the third function aimed to minimize SEG (Surplus Energy Generation), which referred to the EEG (Excess
Energy Generation) from the PV that is not capable of being sent to the utility grid. An optimizer of Multi-Objective Grey Wolf
Optimization (MOGWO) had been employed to solve this conundrum. Subsequently, a Euclidean classifying procedure that is based on
distance had been utilized to cherry-pick the finest optimum result from the MOGWO. Finally, an assessment of reliability and
techno-economic for this optimized system of PV and battery had been represented for the understanding and edification.
Li et al. [27] presented a research paper that put forth a strategy for managing energy in office buildings in the face of time-of-use
(ToU) electricity prices. This strategy had been created to ensure economic feasibility as well as self-consumption rate (SCR). The
procedure sought to make an optimization of FiT income flows from BESS-PV via utilizing a dynamic algorithm for scheduling power
stream in real time. Furthermore, it had taken into account the effects of dynamic electrical power cost, cycling age of battery, and
response characteristics of demand to minimize Net Present Value (NPV) over the course of a typical year. To validate this optimization
model, an existed system of PV-BESS in an office with middle size situated in Beijing had been considered a case-study that had shown
remarkable performance in cold regions within China. Additionally, critical indices that affected economic performance had been
determined, and it was determined that electrical power cost was by far the most significant contributor to the economic condition of
the system. Ultimately, throughout analysis of sensitivity, it was found that regardless of changing electricity prices, revenue could be
generated, whereas the battery storing expense shrinked to 100$/kWh.
The design of a cost-effective off-grid combined electrical system that satisfies the load needs for a particular location will be the
main topic of this study.
The key goal of the represented research is developing a cost-effective green energy scheme. In order to serve this goal, an attempt
has been made to build a suitable off-grid wind and fuel cell hybrid system. The main objective is to compare different renewable
energy plans with three different optimization methods in order to choose the best one. The study will begin with giving a thorough
summary of the green energy resources that have been accessible in the selected area in order to achieve this goal. To provide an
effective result, an improved chaotic version of grasshopper optimizer has been utilized, and the outcomes showed the efficacy of the
offered procedure. Therefore, the main contribution of the paper can be highlighted as follows:

- Applying the ICGO algorithm to perform a techno-economic evaluation of integrated green power systems. Specifically, the study
focuses on an off-grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) consisting of a wind farm, solar energy, and a fuel cell system. The
evaluation takes into account factors, such as energy production, cost, and other variables, to determine the optimal scheme for the
renewable system of energy.
- Conducting a comparative analysis of the ICGO algorithm with other commonly used optimization algorithms in the literature,
including the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Improved Search Space Reduction (ISSR)
algorithm. The results of this analysis demonstrate that the ICGO algorithm outperforms the other algorithms in terms of Net
Present Cost (NPC), with lower minimum and higher maximum NPC values, as well as lower standard deviation.
- Providing a practical application of the evaluated system by implementing it in a remote area in Rujewa, Tanzania. This practical
application showcases the real-world applicability of the proposed approach and its potential to contribute to sustainable and clean
energy solutions in remote regions.

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The paper has been organized as follows. In section 2, a total explanation about the Meteorological information of the case study
(Rujewa) has been presented. Section 3 includes mathematical modeling of the studied HRES configuration. Section 4 defines the
grasshopper optimization algorithm and how the chaos theory is used to improve and design the newly Improved Chaos Grasshopper
Optimizer (ICGO). Section 5 represents the mathematical model of the cost function. Simulation results are established in Section 6,
and the paper is concluded in section 7.

2. Meteorological information

The availability of wind and sunlight is crucial for the productive functioning of wind and sun power systems. The weather con­
ditions of each region perform an overarching role in determining the amount of wind and sunlight that can be harnessed for energy
production. The circumstances of weather, like radiation intensity, air temperature, and velocity of wind, differ from one geographical
region to another. To ensure optimal utilization of wind energy and solar radiation, it is essential to study the characteristics of ra­
diation and wind in the target area. This involves analyzing the patterns of wind speed and solar radiation over a period of time to
determine their availability and predictability.
In regions with high levels of solar radiation, it is important to design solar panels that can efficiently convert sunlight into
electricity. Similarly, in areas with high wind speeds, it is necessary to install turbines that can harness the maximum amount of wind
energy. Moreover, understanding the weather patterns in a particular region can help in determining the most suitable time for energy
production. For instance, during periods of low sunlight or low wind speeds, alternative sources of energy may need to be used to
supplement the shortfall. In other words, studying the weather conditions in each region is crucial for optimizing solar and wind energy
production. By analyzing the characteristics of radiation and wind, systems can be designed that are efficient and reliable while also
reducing the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy.
The research being conducted is focused on a small village located in Sub-Saharan Africa, Rujewa, Tanzania. This village is situated
in a region where the energy grid is not very reliable, resulting in frequent disruptions in electricity supply. As a result, the capacity and
continuity of electricity delivery in the area are limited, which makes it difficult for residents and businesses to rely on a consistent
source of power. The geographical coordinates of the area are 8◦ 47′S latitude and 34◦ 30.5′ E longitude, which places it in the southern
hemisphere of the planet in the continent of Africa.
The research considers a total of 250 residences and other host affairs, which includes commercial establishments and public fa­
cilities, in the village. The maximum load that can be supported by the local grid is approximately 80 kW, which represents the upper
limit of energy consumption that can be sustained without overloading the system. On a typical day, the average demand for electricity
in the village is around 28 kW, which is the amount of power required to satisfy the daily power demands of the residents as well as
businesses. The profile of the load demand in the analyzed region is illustrated in Fig. (1) [28].
The data shows that the average load for the months of January, May, September, and December is 35 kW, while the average load
for February, June, July, and November is 33 kW. The months of March, April, and August have an average load of 37 kW. To further
analyze the data, statistical values, such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation, can be calculated. The mean load for the
entire year is 34.5 kW with a standard deviation of 1.43 kW. The median load is 35 kW, which is also the mode since it appears the most
frequently in the data set. The data can also be used to construct confidence intervals, which provide a range of values that are likely to
contain the true population mean. For example, a 95 % confidence interval for the mean load in January can be calculated using the
formula: mean ± (t-value × standard error), where the t-value is obtained from a t-distribution table based on the sample size and the
desired level of confidence. Assuming a sample size of 12 and a desired level of confidence of 95 %, the t-value is 2.201. The standard
error can be calculated as the standard deviation divided by the square root of the sample size, which gives a value of 0.413. Thus, the
95 % confidence interval for the mean load in January is 35 ± (2.201 × 0.413), or approximately 35 ± 0.91 kW.
The synthetic hourly NASA Surface Meteorological dataset is a valuable tool for collecting meteorological data in the next stage of
the study. This dataset provides detailed information on various meteorological parameters, including temperature, humidity, wind
speed, and radiation. By using this dataset, researchers can obtain accurate and reliable meteorological data for the study site.
Fig. (2) and Fig. (3) provide a detailed meteorological profile for the study site. By using the synthetic hourly NASA Surface
Meteorological dataset, researchers can obtain accurate and reliable meteorological data for their study site. This data can be used to

Fig. 1. Average profile of the monthly load demand energy in the area under investigation [28].

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optimize plant’s growth conditions and improve crop yields in agricultural settings.
In Fig. (2), it can be seen that the daily radiation and clarity levels of the studied area are being assessed. This is an important aspect
of any environmental study as it helps to understand the amount of solar energy that is being received by the area, and how clear or
hazy the atmosphere is. The daily radiation levels are measured using instruments such as pyranometers, which measure the amount of
solar radiation that reaches a surface during a specified chunk of time. These data can be utilized to calculate the amount of energy that
is available for use in various applications such as solar power generation.
The clarity levels, on the other hand, are measured using instruments such as nephelometers, which measure the amount of light
scattering in the atmosphere due to particles, such as dust and pollutants. This information can be used to assess air quality and
determine if there are any potential health risks associated with exposure to these particles. The levels of daily radiation and clarity in
the studied area are being evaluated, as shown in Fig. (2) [29].
By assessing both daily radiation and clarity levels, a better understanding can be gained that how environmental factors affect the
studied area. This information can then be used to develop strategies for mitigating any negative impacts on human health or the
environment.
Fig. (3) presented in the research report that displays the daily wind speed recorded at the studied area are being assessed. In this
graph, the x-axis signifies time, and y-axis illustrates the wind speed determined in meters per second (m/s) [30].
The graph shows that there are fluctuations in wind speed over time. There are days when the wind speed is high, and there are days
when it is low. The highest wind speeds are observed during certain periods, while the lowest speeds occur during other periods. The
data presented in this figure can be used to analyze the wind patterns at the research site. It can help researchers understand how wind
speed varies over time, and how it affects other variables being studied at the site.

3. System modeling

Recently, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) have become progressively more prevalent because of their capability in providing
clean and sustainable energy. The cost of implementing these systems, however, can be a significant barrier for many communities and
individuals. Therefore, the primary purpose of this article is to design a cost-effective RES strategy that meets the load requirements of
a specified area.
To achieve this goal and to maximize efficiency as well as reliability while minimizing costs, three different optimization types of
RES were considered, including solar Photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines, and fuel cell. All of these systems are associated with its own
pros and cons, and the optimal result will be influenced by the particular requirements and constraints of the area being considered.
The HRES configuration is shown in Fig. (4).
The HRES system includes both solar PV panels and wind turbines, which work together to generate electricity. The fuel cell system
has been utilized to store excess Direct Current (DC) power produced by the wind turbines and sun panels in the H2 energy storage tank
for use during times, when there is less sunlight or wind. In the system configuration, the Electrolyzer is used for feeding the fuel cell by
using H2 energy storage tank. The design of this HRES system was based on careful analysis of the load requirements of the specified
area, as well as an assessment of available resources, such as sunlight and wind patterns. By combining multiple green power resources,
it is possible to create a more reliable and efficient system that can meet the energy needs of the area while minimizing costs.

3.1. Model of the photovoltaic system (PV)

A PV is a type of green power system that alters the light of sun into electrical power using solar panels. The sun panels are
composed of PV cells that absorb the sun energy and exchange it into DC electrical power. This DC electrical power is then changed to

Fig. 2. Daily radiation and clarity levels of the studied area are being assessed [29].

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Fig. 3. Daily wind speed recorded at the studied area that are being assessed [30].

Fig. 4. The studied HRES configuration.

AC (Alternating Current) electrical power by an inverter, which could be utilized for powering housings, businesses, etc. Photovoltaic
systems are a sustainable and green resource of energy that has the capability to assist in decreasing dependency on fossil fuels as well
as lowering carbon production. To determine the resulted energy of a PV system, equation (1) is used [31]:
PPV = irT × A × η (1)

2
where, A defines the PV area, irT describes the net radiation received by 1 mhr of the panel, and η signifies the total efficacy, which is
achieved by equation (2):
η = ηec × ηpc (2)

where, ηec and ηpc , in turn, represent the module and the auxiliary equipment efficiencies
The temperature changes influence the module efficiency that is theoretically attained as equation (3):
ηec = ηr [1 − β(Tc − Tr )] (3)

where, Tc is achieved based on equation (4):

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M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

[ ]
NOCT − TaNOCT
Tc = Ta + irT × (4)
irNOCT

where, NOCT describes the Normal Operation Cell Temperature, irNOCT specifies the solar radiation in NOCT, and Ta signifies the
instantaneous ambient temperature.

3.2. Model of the wind energy conversion system

A WT (Wind Turbine) changes the wind kinetic energy into electricity. It consists of a rotor, which is mounted on top of a tall tower
and contains blades that are designed to capture the wind’s energy. As the wind does blow, it does cause the rotor to twist, which
motivates a generator to generate electrical energy. Wind turbines are typically used as a source of renewable energy and can be found
in both onshore and offshore locations. The output energy of WT has been achieved via equation (5) [32]:
PWT = 0.5×p × ρ×WT × V (5)

where, Cp describes the energy coefficient of the WT, AWT describes the swept region of the WT, ρ describes the density of air, and V
specifies the speed of the wind in the turbine hub height (Hth) that is achieved as equation (6):
[ ]α
V Hth
= (6)
V′ H′th

where, V′ describes the velocity of the wind in the reference height, H′th.

3.3. Model of the electrolyzer

In the model of Electrolyzer, the vaporized water in the cathode and anode electrochemical cells is fully saturated that undergoes
elastic deformation. The gas flow channels’ electrochemical cells were assumed to have constant pressure and temperature values. The
phases of gas and liquid were assumed separate entities. The water vapor enthalpy was assumed to remain unchanged during operation
at the operating temperature of the electrochemical cells. However, the power required for water supplying and comparison of
hydrogen was not taken into account. Because of losses of parasitic current, the system does not achieve its maximum value. To
calculate the current effectiveness (ηcur ), Faraday’s Law can be used with the formula [equation (7)] [33]:
( )
0.09− 75.5
Iel I2
ηcur = 96.5 × e el
(7)

where, Iel describes the current density of the Electrolyzer.

The ratio of hydrogen generation is achieved as follows [equation (8)]:
ηI × Iel × Nel
rhp = (8)
2 × CF

where, the Electrolyzer’s current is described by Iel , the number of electrolytic cells is defined by Nel , and the Faraday constant is
defined by CF that is equal to 96487 C/mol.
The formula of Nernst has been utilized to determine the adjustable voltage of electrochemical cells based on the given assump­
tions. However, electrochemical cells experience losses, such as activation, concentration polarization, and ohmic, resulting in a
voltage that is open-circuit and exceeds E. To calculate the open-circuit voltage, one can disregard the loss of concentration over-
potential, which is relatively inconsiderable and small in cells of Electrolyzer [equation (9)] [34].
Vel = E + Vela + Ω (9)

where, E describes the Nernst equation, Vela specifies the cells’ ohmic polarization loss, and Ω defines the loss of activation polarization
in the cells [equation (10)] [35]:
Vela = CT + ST lgi (10)

where, the Tafel constant here is defined by CT that is 0.06, and the Tafel slope is defined by ST that is 0.1.
Eventually, the loss of Ohmic voltage is achieved by equation (11):
( )
− 2870× 1 1
1273− Tel
VelΩ = 0.127 × Iel × e (11)

3.4. Model of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

A PEMFC has been considered to be a kind of electrochemical cell that converts oxygen and hydrogen into electricity and water,

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with the help of a membrane that allows protons to pass through it. PEMFCs are highly efficient and environmentally friendly;
moreover, they have low operating temperatures making them ideal for use in a Hybrid Renewable Power System (HRES).
In an HRES, PEMFCs could be utilized to collect excess power produced by green resources, i.e. sun and wind, and convert it into
electrical power when needed. The process involves using an Electrolyzer to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, which can then be
stored in tanks once needed. When electricity is required, the hydrogen is fed into the PEMFC. Then, it gets combined with air oxygen
to produce electricity and water.
PEMFCs have several advantages over other types of fuel cells which will be described subsequently. They have low operating
temperatures, which makes them more efficient and easier to maintain. They are also highly efficient, with energy conversion rates of
up to 60 %, which means that they can convert a larger proportion of the stored energy into useable electricity. Finally, PEMFCs
produce only water as a byproduct, which means that they are environmentally friendly and produce no harmful emissions. The
current density of a PEMFC can be achieved by equation (12):

2 × nin
H2 × γ FC
IFC = (12)
NFC × AFC

where, NFC describes the number of fuel cells, the active area can be determined by AFC , and γ FC and nin
H2 represent, in turn, the uti­
lization factor and the number of H2 tubes. Then, the PEMFC resulted voltage has been obtained according to equation (13):
VOUT = E − Va − Vc − VΩ (13)

where, Va , Vc , and VΩ represent, in turn, the loss of activation, concentration, and the ohmic voltages. Also, the Nernst (reversible)
potential (E) could be achieved via the following formula [equation (14)]:
( ) RTFC ( √̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅ )
E = 1.23 + − 8.5 × 10− 4 × (TFC − 298.15) + ln PH2 PO2 (14)
4F
Electrodes are an essential component of many chemical and electrochemical processes. The surface of the electrode is where the
reactions take place, and the rate of these reactions can be affected by various factors. One such factor is the activation loss, which
refers to the reduction in the speed of reactions on the electrode’s surface. Activation loss can occur due to several reasons, including
the slow diffusion of reactants to the electrode’s surface, the sluggish absorption of reactants onto the surface, or the formation of a
surface film that inhibits the reaction. Activation voltage loss can be quantified using equation (15):

Va = − 0.95 + T + 7.6 × 10− 5 × T × ln(CO2 ) + 1.93 × 10− 4 × T × ln(IFC ) (15)

where, the current of the PEMFC stack has been determined by IFC , and CO2 specifies the O2 content at the cathode/gas contact by the
following formula [equation (16)]:
( )
498
T
pO × e
CO2 = 2 (16)
50.8 × 107

where, the partial pressures of the oxygen has been defined by pO2 ; consequently, the pseudo-empirical parametric has been defined by
equation (17) [36].

ξ = 0.0002 ln(A) + 43 × 10− 6 ln(CH2 ) + 0.003 (17)

Also, the concentration of hydrogen at the contact of the anode membrane/gas is achieved by CH2 and is obtained by the formula
below [equation (18)]:
( )
− 77
T
pH × e
CH2 = 2 (18)
1.09 × 108

Where, the partial pressure of hydrogen has been defined by pH2 .

And the ohmic voltage loss has been achieved as follows [equation (19)]:
VΩ = IPEM × (Rc + Rm ) (19)

where [equation 20 and 21],

Rm = ρm l/S (20)
[ ( )2 ( )2.5 ( ) ]
181.6 × 0.062 T303
FC IFC
S
+ 0.03 IFC
S
+ 1
ρm = [ ( )]
TFC − 30
(21)
θ − 0.063 − 3 IFCS
× e TFC

8
M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

where, θ specifies the tunable parameter, S specifies the area of the membrane, the membrane resistivity has been defined by ρm , the
operating cell’s temperature is defined by TFC , Rc and Rm , in turn, describe the connection resistance and membrane resistance, and I
and IFC represent the thickness of the membrane and the PEMFC working current, respectively.
At last, the concentration voltage loss can be obtained by equation (22):
( )
J
VC = − β × ln Jmax − (22)
Jmax
Such that, β is a parametric coefficient, and the typical and the maximum current densities have been, in turn, represented by J and
Jmax .

4. Improved chaos grasshopper optimizer

4.1. The standard grasshopper optimizer

The Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) has been considered to be a novel population-based optimizing procedure,
triggered by the life style of grasshopper insects. The population, in this algorithm, dose include a set of grasshoppers. Every individual
in this swarm has been considered to be a solution, which is possible for the problem. The primary stage commences the random swarm
production as the primary outcome of the problem. Afterwards, the fitness value for every grasshopper has been calculated.
This is a continuous process that absorbs the swarm by assumed grasshoppers over their own situation for attracting the grass­
hoppers to make a movement toward the assumed grasshopper.
In this method, two key manners of the grasshoppers have been assumed: a) the slow and small motion of the grasshoppers, which
are larval for the long series and b) no sequence motion motivates adults and the process of looking for food that is split into 2 distinct
sections, namely exploitation and exploration.
The advection model of the wind (Ai ) has been calculated using equation (23):
Ai = u.ew (23)
Here, u demonstrates the constant of drift.
The ith grasshopper’s improvement regarding the target one has been explained via Yi that can be achieved via equation (24):
Yi = k1 Si + k2 Gi + k3 Ai (24)

here, k1 , k2 , and k3 indicate the random values varying from zero to one. Ai illustrates the advection of wind, Gi and Si describe the
force of gravity influencing the ith grasshopper and the social contact.
There is a correlation between the Si and social forces amid 2 grasshoppers, the force of repulsion for stopping collisions and force of
attraction over a tiny scale of length [equations 25–28].
∑
N
( )
Si = ̂ ij
= s Pij P (25)
j=1

⃒ ⃒
Pij = ⃒Yj − Yi ⃒ (26)
⃒ ⃒
⃒Yj − Yi ⃒
̂ ij =
P (27)
Pij
( )
(28)
− k
s Pij = fe l − ek

where, Pij demonstrates the length of the Euclidian length of the ith grasshopper and the one situated in the jth location, and P
̂ ij il­
lustrates the existing unit vector amid the ith and the jth grasshopper. s determines the strength of the social forces, l signifies the length
scale of the attraction force, f demonstrates the intensity force of attraction. equations 29 and 30 is utilized for modelling the strength
of the attraction force:
⎛ ⎞
⎜∑ ⃒) ⎟
⎜ N hbd − lbd (⃒⃒ d ⎟
d ⃒ Yj − Yi ⎟
Yid = c⎜
⎜ c s ⃒Yj − Yi ⃒ ̂
⎟ + Td (29)
⎝ j=1 2 P ij ⎠

j∕
=i

cmax − cmin
C = cmax − l (30)
L
Here, N is the population number of the grasshoppers, lbd and hbd signify, in turn, the lowest and the highest boundary over the

9
M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

dimension of d, and T̂ d signifies the best value over the dimension d. The reduction element to the appropriate region of the repulsion
area is represented by c, and the highest and lowest amount of c has been illustrated by cmax and cmin , respectively. The total number of
epochs and the existing epoch have been, in turn, demonstrated by L and l. Moreover, Gi has been found to be another factor of the
procedure that has been gained as equation (31):
Gi = − g.eg (31)

here, Gi does explain a value for the force of gravity, and ̂e g has been considered to be a direction for unite vector along the wind.
The Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) is a population-based optimization algorithm that has both advantages and
disadvantages. On the positive side, GOA benefits from parallel exploration of the solution space and the potential for finding better
solutions. It mimics natural systems and their adaptive capabilities, which can be advantageous in dynamic environments. The in­
clusion of social forces among grasshoppers enables information sharing and cooperation, facilitating better exploration and exploi­
tation of the solution space.
However, GOA has some drawbacks, including slow convergence and a risk of premature convergence. Additionally, fixed pa­
rameters may hinder its performance. To address these limitations, chaos theory is combined with GOA in the Improved Chaos
Grasshopper Optimizer (ICGO). By incorporating chaos, ICGO aims to overcome the drawbacks of GOA.

4.2. Improved chaos grasshopper optimizer (ICGO)

A procedure has been offered in this part for making an improvement in the overarching parameters of the GOA (k1 , k2 , k3 , and u)
and the convergence velocity of the algorithm. This improvement has been made on the basis of the chaos theory, a study of random
and unstable processes. The key principle of the chaos theory has been rooted in studying the dynamic systems, which are extremely

Fig. 5. The ICGO flowchart.

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M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

sensitive as much as they can be overshadowed via every tiny difference.

As a result, for improving the algorithm’s diversity, a great diversity could be created for production of the swarm in GOA.
This section can make an improvement in the capability of the GOA regarding the speed of convergence, as well as getting rid of
being stuck in the point of local optima. For modeling the chaos theory, a general formula can be expressed as [equation (32)]:
( )
CM ji+1 = f CM ji j = 1, 2, …, k (32)

Here, the map dimension has been expressed by k, and f(CMji ) has been regarded as the function that produces the chaotic model.
In the offered procedure, k1 , k2 , k3 , and u have been modeled using the sinusoidal function of the chaotic map as [equation (33)]:

ki = b1 p2k sin(πtk ) u = b2 p2k sin(π tk ) t0 ∈ [0, 1], bi ∈ (0, 4], i = 1, 2, 3 (33)

here, t is the epoch number.

The flowchart of the represented ICGO has been demonstrated in Fig. (5).
ICGO aims to achieve the most favorable outcome for a specified objective function by systematically navigating the solution space.
This is accomplished by harnessing the dynamics of chaos and social interactions among grasshoppers.
Chaos theory introduces randomness and instability, enhancing exploration and avoiding premature convergence. In ICGO, pa­
rameters are adapted using chaotic maps, allowing the algorithm to explore different regions of the solution space and avoid being
stuck in local optima. The adaptation of parameters through chaos helps improve the diversity of the grasshopper swarm, enabling
exploration of a wider range of solutions and increasing the chances of finding better optima.
The Improved Chaos Grasshopper Optimizer (ICGO) is a modified version of the standard Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm
(GOA) that incorporates chaos theory. By integrating chaotic maps, the ICGO introduces randomness and instability to overcome the
limitations of the GOA. This integration enhances exploration and prevents the algorithm from getting trapped in local optima. The
ICGO achieves this by promoting diversity within the grasshopper population, allowing for a broader range of solutions to be explored.
The introduction of randomness and instability through chaos theory enables grasshoppers to move in unexpected directions,
beyond the influence of local optima. This promotes exploration and prevents premature convergence at suboptimal solutions.
Furthermore, the ICGO adapts its parameters using chaotic maps to strike a balance between exploration and exploitation. This ensures
that the algorithm does not prematurely converge at suboptimal solutions but continues to explore the solution space effectively.
The ICGO also retains the concept of social forces, which facilitates information sharing and cooperation among grasshoppers. This
concept enables better exploitation of promising solution regions, further enhancing the algorithm’s performance. As a result of these
enhancements, the ICGO demonstrates improved convergence speed and avoids local optimum points. Ultimately, these improvements
increase the chances of finding better optima for the specified objective function.
The Improved Chaos Grasshopper Optimizer (ICGO) is a metaheuristic optimization algorithm designed to ascertain the optimal
solution for a specified objective function. The sequential procedure of ICGO encompasses the following steps:
Step 1. The algorithm commences with initializing the population of grasshoppers, whereby the quantity of grasshoppers and their
initial positions are determined in accordance with the problem’s domain.
Step 2. The fitness of each grasshopper is assessed through the evaluation of the objective function. This evaluation yields a fitness
value that signifies the extent to which the current position of the grasshopper satisfies the objective function.
Step 3. The social force between grasshoppers is computed by considering their fitness values and positions. This social force serves
as a representation of the attraction or repulsion among grasshoppers, thereby motivating them to either move closer to or farther
away from one another.
Step 4. The movement of each grasshopper is determined by taking into account the social force exerted upon it and its present
position. To introduce randomness and instability, thereby promoting exploration and preventing premature convergence, a chaotic
map is employed to calculate the movement.
Step 5. Position update: The position update of each grasshopper is determined by the calculated movement, where the grasshopper
is directed towards the direction that optimizes its fitness value.
Step 6. Parameter adaptation: The algorithm’s parameters, namely k1 , k2 , k3 , and u, undergo adaptation through the utilization of
chaotic maps. This adaptation process incorporates random variations, enabling the algorithm to effectively explore diverse regions
within the solution space and prevent the occurrence of being trapped in local optima.
Step 7. Termination: The conclusion of the algorithm occurs upon fulfillment of a stopping criterion, which may include reaching a
maximum number of iterations or a minimum fitness threshold.
Step 8. Solution extraction: The extraction of the ultimate solution is derived from the optimal position discovered by the grass­
hoppers throughout the process of optimization.

4.3. Validation of the improved chaos grasshopper optimizer

The analysis has been implemented on the MATLAB R2020b on Intel Core ™ I7 with 2.6 GHz CPU and 16 GB memory. Four
benchmark functions, including both unimodal and multimodal basic problems, were used to test the Improved Chaos Grasshopper

11
M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

Optimizer proposed by the authors. A comparison has been conducted among this method’s performance and other state-of-the-art
algorithms, such as Enhanced Leader PSO (ELPSO) [37], Multi-Verse Optimizer (MVO) [38], Biogeography-Based Optimizer (BBO)
[39], and the original Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) [19]. The goal was to minimize all four benchmark functions, and
the algorithm with the least obtained value was deemed the most efficient. Table 1 displays the setting values of the analyzed
approaches.
Table 2 provides a comprehensive overview of the benchmark functions that were studied in the context of a particular analysis or
research study. The table includes various details, such as the function’s name, its mathematical formulation, the dimension of the
function, the range of the variables used in the function, and the optimal value of the function that was obtained through the study.
Table 3 presents the findings from the assessment of the algorithms. The examination was carried out to determine the effectiveness
of the algorithms in achieving their intended goals. The table provides a detailed breakdown of the results, which were obtained
through rigorous testing and analysis.
The examination of the algorithms, as presented in Table 3, offers an in-depth analysis of their performance in achieving their
intended goals. The table provides a detailed breakdown of the results, which allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the algorithms.
One notable finding from the results in Table 3 is the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each algorithm. This information
is crucial in understanding the performance of the algorithms and their suitability for specific applications. By highlighting areas where
the algorithms performed well and areas where improvement is needed, the results offer valuable insights into their effectiveness.
Additionally, the results from Table 3 demonstrate that the examined algorithm outperformed comparable approaches in terms of
accuracy. This is indicated by the lower value for the mean measure, which suggests that the examined algorithms were more suc­
cessful in achieving their intended outcomes. This finding is important as accuracy is often a crucial element in determination of the
algorithms’ effectiveness. Moreover, the usage of the suggested optimizer yielded the lowest standard deviation (STD) value, indi­
cating higher consistency in the results when compared to numerous runs using alternative approaches. This finding highlights the
importance of choosing the right optimizer for a given algorithm and further emphasizes the need for optimization in algorithm’s
development.
The algorithm effectively maintains a harmonious equilibrium between exploration and exploitation by employing various tech­
niques. To encourage exploration and prevent the algorithm from getting trapped in local optima, chaotic maps are utilized to
introduce randomness to the search process. Furthermore, the ICGO algorithm capitalizes on the knowledge acquired from the global
search process by employing a local search technique to refine the solutions. The superiority of the ICGO algorithm over other cutting-
edge optimization algorithms, including those emphasizing either exploration or exploitation, is demonstrated in Table 3. This sub­
stantiates the ICGO algorithm’s ability to strike a favorable balance between exploration and exploitation, enabling it to efficiently
navigate the search space and discover high-quality solutions to the optimization problems at hand.

5. Model’s cost function

The proposed design aims to achieve a minimum value of the Net Present Cost (NPC) while maintaining a 2 % LPSP (Loss of Power
Supply Probability). To accomplish this goal, the design must carefully control four continuous decision parameters: the quantity of
wind turbines (NWT ), solar panels (Npv ), fuel cells (NFC ), hydrogen storage H2 tanks (NH2 ), and Electrolyzers (Nel ). Eq. (34) defines the
model’s cost function [equation (34)].
Cost = min NPC (34)

where, NPC defines the Net Present Cost and is achieved by equation (35):
NPC = Nwt × Cwt + Npv × Cpv + Nel × Cel + NH2 × CH2 + Nfc × Cfc (35)

Such that, the decision variables of this optimization process are Nfc , Npv , NH2 , Nwt , and Nel .
Each piece of equipment, namely the wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, Electrolyzer, fuel cells, and H2 storage tanks, is rep­
resented by a cost symbol denoted as CWT , CPV , Cel , CFC , and CH2 , respectively. The formula provided below is utilized for estimating the

Table 1
Set values of the analyzed approaches.
Method Parameter Amount

ELPSO [37] C1 1.4

C2 1.4
w 1
MVO [38] WEPmin 0.1
WEPmax 1
Coefficient (P) 5
BBO [39] Probability of habitat modification 1
Probability of Immigrating bounds per gene 0.7
Probability of mutation 0.002
Max immigrating (I) and Max emigrating (E) 1
Step size for numerical integration of probabilities 1

12
 M. Zhang et al.
Table 2
The utilized objective functions.
Type Name Formula Dim Bounds Fmin
∑n
Unimodal Sphere F1 (x) = i=1 xi
2 30 [− 100,100] 0
Schwefel2.22 ∑n n
∏ 30 [− 10,10] 0
F2 (x) = i=1 |Xi | + |xi |
i=1
Multimodal Basic Functions Rosenbrock’s F3 (x) =
∑n− 1 2 2
(xi − 1)2 ] 30 [− 30,30] 0
i=1 [100(xi+1 − xi ) +
∑n
Quartic F4 (x) = ix
i=1 i
4
+ random[0, 1) 30 [− 128,128] 0
√̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
13

∑n
Multimodal Benchmark Functions Schwefe F5 (x) = i=1 − xi sin ( |xi |)
30 [− 500,500] − 418.9829
( √̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅ ) ))
Ackley 1 ∑n 2
( ∑
1 n
30 [− 32,32] 0
F6 (x) = − 20 exp − 0.2 x i – exp cos (2 π x i + e + 20
n i=1 n i=1
⎧ ⎫
Schwefels Problem ⎪ 10 sin(πy1 ) ⎪ 30 [− 50,50] 0
π⎨ ∑ n=1
⎬ ∑n xi + 1
F7 (x) = 2 2 2 + u(xi , 10, 100, 4) yi = 1 + ,
n⎪⎩ + (y i − 1) [1 + 10 sin (π y i+1 )] + (yn − 1) ⎪
⎭ i=1 4
i=1
⎧
⎨ k(xi − a)m xi > a
u(xi , a, k, m) = 0 − a < xi < a
k(− xi − a)m xi < − a
⎩

Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

Table 3
The outcomes of the algorithms’ examination.
Methods ELPSO [37] MVO [38] BBO [39]
Function
AVG STD AVG STD AVG STD

F1 9.13 E10 3.258E-11 1.36 E− 12 3.86–12 4.95 E− 12 1.29E-13

F2 4.19E-8 1.37E-8 3.46E-10 7.71E-10 3.42 E− 12 3.53E-12
F3 2.31 1.19 1.078 1.003 0.961 0.0873
F4 3.14E-5 1.25E-5 7.13E-5 9.25E-5 1.11E-6 1.15E-6
F5 − 098.537 47.33 − 104.237 49.99 − 221.254 43.06
F6 4.48E-9 2.83–10 7.38E-9 4.98E-10 5.38E-10 8.32E-10
F7 1.097 1.013 0.731 0.539 0.326 0.135

Methods GOA [19] ICGO

Function
AVG STD AVG STD

F1 2.935 E− 14 7.273E-14 4.725 E− 15 8.216E-15

F2 6.535 E− 12 4.234E-13 7.318E-13 9.925E-13
F3 0.719 0.501 0.485 0.173
F4 1.168E-7 2.019E-7 4.326E-7 9.001E-7
F5 − 225.254 31.99 − 316.131 25.36
F6 9.786 E− 10 11.535E-10 5.374 E− 11 8.56E-11
F7 0.095 0.025 0.019 0.003

cost of each equipment, such that [equation (36)]:

Cost = CR + CI + CF + CO&M (36)

where, CR , CI , CF , and CO&M represent, in turn, the replacement cost, the investment cost, cost of fuel, and the cost of operating and
maintenance over a year. Also, the constraints of the optimization cost function include [equation (37)]:
⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
⎢ min ⎥ Nwt ⎤ ⎢ max ⎥
⎢ Nwt ⎥ ⎡ ⎢ Nwt ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ min ⎥
Npv Npv ⎥ ⎢ max ⎥
Npv
⎢ ⎥ ⎢
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢
⎢
⎥
⎥
⎢
⎢ Nfcmin ⎥ ⎢
⎥≤⎢ Nfc ⎥⎥≤⎢ Nfcmax ⎥ (37)
⎢ min ⎥ ⎣ ⎦ ⎢
⎢ max ⎥
⎥
⎢ N H2 ⎥ N H2 ⎢ NH2 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ min ⎥ ⎣ Nelmax ⎦
⎣ Nel ⎦ Nel

To meet the system’s load requirement on hourly basis, the net power generation of all online parts must be the same as the system’s
load requirement throughout the entire time of scheduling [equation (38)].
EWT (t) + EPV (t) + EFC (t) ± EH2 (t) − Edump (t) ≥ Eload (t) (38)

where, EWT (t), EFC (t), and EPV (t) signify, in turn, the energy of wind turbine, fuel cell, and photovoltaic system, Edump signifies the
energy wasted from the unnecessary load and grid’s unavailability, and ±EH2 specifies the electrolyzation of the supplied energy in the
H2 storage tank. The minimum and the maximum amounts of PV (Npv ) and wind turbine (Nwt ) are between zero and 50. Also, the
minimum and the maximum amounts of the fuel cell (Nfc ), hydrogen storage tank (NH2 ), and Electrolyzer (Nel ) are between 0 and 80,
0 and 350, and 0 and 150, respectively.
The incorporation of penalty functions within the ICGO framework serves the purpose of addressing infeasible solutions. These
penalty functions play a crucial role in adjusting the fitness value of a grasshopper, taking into consideration the extent to which it
violates the constraints of the problem at hand. The specific penalty function employed in the ICGO methodology is expressed as
follows:
P(x) = (1 + α × g(x)) × f (x) (39)

In order to optimize solutions while ensuring feasibility, ICGO employs a repair mechanism that adjusts the positions of grasshoppers if
they violate constraints. The degree of constraint violation that has been denoted as g(x), is used in conjunction with the original fitness
value f(x) and a penalty factor α to calculate the adjusted fitness value P(x). Feasible solutions have a g(x) value of zero, while
infeasible solutions have increasing g(x) values. The penalty factor α determines the severity of the penalty applied to infeasible so­
lutions. Additionally, ICGO utilizes an improvement structure that divides the solution space into subspaces and applies different
parameter settings to each subspace. This approach enables the algorithm to explore the solution space more thoroughly and avoid
getting trapped in local optima, ultimately leading to better solutions.

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M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

6. Simulations and discussions

All the experiments are conducted in MATLAB R2020b environment on Windows 10 64-bit version, Intel Core ™ I7 with 2.6 GHz
CPU and 16 GB memory. This refers to a study in which a new optimization algorithm called the Improved Chaos Grasshopper
optimizer was proposed and evaluated. For assessing this new algorithm’s performance, a comparison has been done among it and
several other optimization algorithms that have been previously described in the literature, including the Grasshopper Optimization
Algorithm (GOA) [40], Genetic Algorithm (GA) [41], and Improved Search Space Reduction (ISSR) algorithm [42].
The passage describes a study focused on an off-grid HRES. This system was designed to incorporate three different technologies,
namely wind turbine, fuel cell, and PV. The aim of the system was to supply electrical energy to a remote area in Rujewa, Tanzania. For
evaluating the system’s effectiveness, the authors performed a total of 40 separate runs using three different algorithms.
The utilized algorithms were designed to obtain the optimum scheme of the renewable system of energy, taking into account
factors, such as energy production, cost, and other variables. The performance of each algorithm was evaluated based on its ability to
decrease the system’s Net Present Cost (NPC) to the minimum amount. Specifically, a total of 40 independent runs have been used for
each algorithm on each benchmark problem to obtain the final averaged results that are presented in this paper. Then, the results of the
40 evaluations were compiled into Table 4, which illustrates the mean value, maximum and minimum amounts, as well as the value of
standard deviation for the NPC. The mean value represents the average cost across all 40 evaluations, while the minimum and
maximum values indicate the lowest and highest costs observed, respectively. The standard deviation provides information about the
variability of the results. Table 4 represents the comparison of the NPC obtained from the offered IPPA algorithm with the NPC ob­
tained from other comparative algorithms. The net present cost is an economic evaluation metric that is used to determine the present
value of the net expense of a project throughout its lifespan.
The findings indicate that the ICGO algorithm surpasses other algorithms in terms of NPC, exhibiting the minimum NPC value of
274.541 × 104 USD and the maximum NPC value of 311.94 × 104 USD. The ICGO algorithm’s average NPC value of 289.176× 104
USD is comparable to the other three algorithms.
However, the ICGO algorithm’s standard deviation (STD) of the NPC values is the lowest among all the algorithms, indicating its
superior consistency and robustness in identifying the optimal solution. Conversely, the ISSR algorithm has the highest STD value,
suggesting its inferior reliability in finding the optimal solution. The GOA and GA algorithms also have relatively high STD values,
indicating their lower consistency compared to the ICGO algorithm. The boxplot chart for these algorithms is illustrated in Fig. (6).
The introduced box plot illustrates the statistical data of Net Present Cost (NPC) for 40 runs of various optimization algorithms,
namely GOA, GA, ISSR, and ICGO. The minimum and maximum NPC values provide insight into the range of solutions explored by
each algorithm. Notably, GOA and GA have identical minimum and maximum values, while ISSR has the highest minimum value.
Conversely, ICGO has the lowest minimum NPC value, indicating its proficiency in discovering cost-effective solutions.
The average NPC values indicate the central tendency of the solutions generated by each algorithm, with all four algorithms having
similar average values. Additionally, the STD values reflect the variability of the NPC values obtained from multiple runs of each
algorithm. In this case, both GOA and ICGO exhibit lower STD values compared to GA and ISSR, suggesting more consistency in their
ability to find optimal solutions.
Table 5, on the other hand, provides details of the configuration optimization achieved by the analyzed algorithms. It is likely that
this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the specific parameters used by each optimization algorithm, and how these pa­
rameters were optimized to achieve the lowest NPC. This Table may provide a more detailed analysis of the specific strengths and
weaknesses of each algorithm and could potentially help in guiding the selection of the most appropriate optimization algorithm for
future projects.
Table 5 demonstrates that the hybrid PV, Wind, and FC configuration is the optimal choice among the four optimization techniques.
The findings reveal that the most favorable options for selecting factors are those that result in a reduced NPC and a maximum LPSP of
2 %. The outcomes represented in Table 5 specify that the system could be implemented at a low NPC of 279.946 × 104 $ and a Leveled
Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 0.57 $/kWh, with an LPSP of 1.82%. This LPSP would result in the residents of the studied area missing out
the annual 130 h of work.
The LCOE of the HRES has been considered to be dependent on whether it utilizes methanol or water Electrolyzers. Specifically, for
a PV and FC HRES using methanol and water Electrolyzers, the LCOE is, in turn, 0.52 $/kWh and 0.93 $/kWh [43]. The convergence
analysis of the Net Present Cost, utilizing comparative algorithms, is depicted in Fig. (7).
Fig. (7) illustrates that while all the comparative algorithms have achieved the optimal solution, the proposed ISSA algorithm
accomplished this in fewer iterations (38 iterations) compared to the proposed ICGO algorithm (which took 88 iterations). However,
the GA and GOA did not succeed in finding the optimal solution. Fig. (8) illustrates the monthly output power of the proposed HRES
over a year.

Table 4
The net present cost’s statistical values for 40 runs evaluations.
GOA [40] GA [41] ISSR [42] ICGO

Minimum ($) 276.822 × 104 276.822 × 104 284.531 × 104 274.541 × 104
Maximum ($) 312.569 × 104 312.56 × 104 312.569 × 104 311.94 × 104
Average ($) 289.176 × 104 289.178 × 104 293.361 × 104 289.176 × 104
STD ($) 8.88 × 102 19.97 × 102 210.88 × 102 8.64 × 102

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M. Zhang et al. Heliyon 10 (2024) e24315

Fig. 6. Box plot chart for these algorithms.

Table 5
Optimal configuration of the system based on the offered procedure in comparison with other studied algorithms.
Combined System GOA [40] GA [41] ICGO ISSR [42]
Methods

PV/FC H2 tanks 224 228 225 229

NEL 76 75 74 76
NFC 36 37 37 38
NWT 0 0 0 0
Npv 58 55 57 59
NPC 366.561 × 104 367.476 × 104 362.57 × 104 374.873 × 104
LCOE 0.7 0.72 0.72 0.74
PV/WT/FC H2 tanks 192 187 194 196
NEL 69 65 69 70
NFC 39 33 39 40
NWT 9 23 9 10
Npv 49 36 49 50
NPC 279.946 × 104 318.471 × 104 279.946 × 104 285.256 × 104
LCOE 0.57 0.63 0.57 0.59
WT/FC H2 tanks 358 374 358 362
NEL 124 129 124 126
NFC 62 66 62 61
NWT 172 155 172 173
Npv 0 0 0 0
NPC 686.486 × 104 678.651 × 104 676.485 × 104 694.773 × 104
LCOE 1.36 1.35 1.36 1.39

Fig. (8) demonstrates the breakdown of the sources of power generated by the system, with PV (Photovoltaic) systems accounting
for 61.22 % of the total, followed by FCs (fuel cells) at 29.31 %, and wind turbines at 9.46 %. This information is useful in under­
standing the relative contributions of different components of the system towards energy generation.
On the other hand, Fig. (9) illustrates the system’s overall cost and the percentage that each piece contributes to that cost. This
information is valuable in assessing the system’s feasibility from economic point of view. The authors likely created a discounted cash
flow analysis, which is a financial modeling technique used to estimate the current value of future cash outflows and inflows, to
determine the cost of the optimized system. By performing this analysis, they were able to assess the financial viability of the system
and identify areas where cost reductions could be made.
Here, Net Present Cost (NPC) refers to the system’s total cost over its lifetime, taking into account both the initial investment and
ongoing maintenance costs. According to the cost breakdown shown in Fig. (8), the fuel cells are the most expensive piece, accounting
for 27.58 % of the total NPC. This means that the fuel cells’ cost plays a significant role in determination of the overall cost of the
system. In contrast, the Electrolyzers, H2 storing units, PV panels of sun, and WTs (Wind Turbine) account for smaller percentages of
the total NPC that their values are, in turn, 31.03 %, 22.78 %, 11.43 %, and 7.17 %.
These components are still important contributors to the overall cost of the system, but their costs are relatively lower compared to
the fuel cells. Consequently, the understanding of the cost breakdown for every component is important for identifying areas where
cost reductions can be made, as well as for making informed decisions about the most cost-effective approach to build and maintain the
system.

7. Conclusions

This paper presents an optimization framework for the electrification of a rural region in Rujewa, Tanzania, with a focus on the
reliability models of energy supply and cost of a PV, WT, and FC system. To determine the system’s optimal size, the Improved Chaos

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Fig. 7. The convergence analysis of the Net Present Cost for the proposed ICGO compared with some other studied methods.

Fig. 8. Variation in monthly power generated by a PV, wind, and FC system throughout a year.

Fig. 9. The complete expenses of the system and the proportionate share of each component in the overall cost.

Grasshopper Optimizer (ICGO) method is recommended. Furthermore, the LPSP (Loss of Possibility of Power Supplying) concept is
introduced to guarantee the system’s reliability. Given the environmental benefits and financial savings associated with renewable and
green energy, this study proposes a sustainable solution for electrifying rural areas in Tanzania. The ICGO model is employed to
provide appropriate ratings for all system devices, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. The Net Present Cost (NPC) analysis
demonstrated that the ICGO algorithm achieved the lowest minimum NPC value of 274.541E4 USD and the highest maximum NPC
value of 311.94E4 USD. The average NPC value of the ICGO algorithm (289.176E4 USD) was comparable to the other algorithms
considered in the study. These findings suggest that the ICGO algorithm surpassed other optimization algorithms in minimizing the
cost of the renewable energy system. Furthermore, the ICGO algorithm exhibited the lowest standard deviation (STD) among all the

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algorithms, indicating its superior consistency and robustness in identifying the optimal solution. In contrast, the ISSR algorithm
displayed the highest STD value, signifying its inferior reliability in finding the optimal solution. The GOA and GA algorithms also
demonstrated relatively high STD values, implying lower consistency compared to the ICGO algorithm. Additionally, the optimal
configuration analysis revealed that the hybrid PV, Wind, and FC configuration yielded the most favorable results among the four
optimization techniques. This configuration resulted in a lower NPC and a Leveled Cost of Energy (LCOE), indicating its cost-
effectiveness and potential for maximum power generation. The numerical results from the simulations provide quantitative evi­
dence supporting the superiority of the ICGO algorithm in terms of cost effectiveness, consistency, and the identification of the optimal
system’s configuration. The implementation of this approach has resulted in a dependable power supply and a reduction in both
operational and maintenance expenses. As a result, this research article presents a comprehensive framework for the integration of
renewable energy systems in rural areas of developing countries such as Tanzania. By incorporating reliability measures and utilizing
advanced optimization techniques, this framework can serve as a model for future electrification projects in comparable regions.

Funding

Economic Research Center, Institute of Regional Reform and Development, Chinese Academy of Management Sciences, Research
on Artificial Intelligence and Economic Innovation Research (No.: JJYJ00105).

Data availability statement

Research data are not shared.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Min Zhang: Writing – review & editing, Software, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization. Heng Lyu:
Writing – original draft, Supervision, Software, Resources, Methodology, Data curation, Conceptualization. Hengran Bian: Writing –
review & editing, Writing – original draft, Software, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization. Noradin
Ghadimi: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Software, Resources, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation,
Conceptualization.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to
influence the work reported in this paper.

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