<![CDATA[Access to reliable electricity remains a critical challenge in many rural areas of developing countries, particularly in Pakistan, where traditional grid expansion is often economically unfeasible. This research aims to design and optimize an off-grid microgrid system powered by Renewable Energy (RE) sources, specifically solar energy, integrated with an efficient Energy Storage System (ESS). The proposed off-grid system features a generation RE source with an ESS for continuous power supply during periods of low solar irradiance, poor weather conditions, and nighttime, which includes Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB), Sodium-Ion Battery (NIB), and Hydrogen Storage System (HSS). HOMER Pro software is used to simulate and optimize a system sized 150 kW, assessing various energy storage technologies, including LIB, and NIB, with HSS, to determine the most suitable option for rural electrification. Key results demonstrate that the integration of renewable sources with ESSs significantly enhances reliability, providing a consistent energy supply while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The techno-economic analysis reveals that the most cost-effective configuration includes solar Photovoltaic (PV), NIB, and minimal use of a HSS for backup power, resulting in a Net Present Cost (NPC) of 1.53 $M and the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 0.0649 $/kWh. The proposed system shows the capability to maintain power reliability with no unmet load. ]]>
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