Off-Grid Hybrid Energy System Design for a Forward Operating Base (UAV Ground Control Station) in Harsh Environments: A Case Study of Northern Iraq and Logistics Cost Analysis

This study presents a techno-economic analysis of a hybrid energy system designed to ensure energy security for an off-grid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Ground Control Station (GCS) located in cross-border operational regions (Northern Iraq). Ensuring energy resilience is of paramount importance for military installations. In scenarios where terrestrial fuel supply routes are compromised, the reliance on helicopter logistics exponentially escalates unit energy costs. Using HOMER Pro software, this research models a hybrid configuration integrating Diesel Generators, Lithium-Ion Batteries, and Solar Photovoltaics (PV) for a military base with an average daily demand of 320 kWh. Wind energy was excluded due to operational stealth requirements (acoustic/radar signature) and logistical constraints, focusing the design on PV/Battery architectures. A sensitivity analysis was performed by comparing standard logistics fuel pricing ($1.2/L) against helicopter-delivered fuel pricing ($6.0/L). Simulation outcomes indicate that in helicopter-dependent scenarios, the proposed PV/Battery hybrid architecture yields an 81% reduction in total costs compared to standalone diesel systems, with a payback period optimized to 1.4 years. Furthermore, the proposed system significantly enhances operational security by mitigating thermal and acoustic signatures.