In regions such as South Africa, where electricity supply is often unstable, hybrid energy systems offer a way to ensure a continuous power supply while utilising abundant renewable resources. The key research question was defined as, "How can a hybrid energy system integrating wind, solar, and gas be designed and optimized to provide continuous, cost-effective power for small businesses in South Africa?" Research has mainly focused on optimising the balance between energy generation, storage, and consumption to improve efficiency and reliability. Small businesses, particularly restaurants, face operational disruptions and rising costs due to unreliable electricity. Although solar and wind energy are abundant, their intermittent nature limits standalone viability, while high investment costs and financial risks hinder adoption. The absence of an integrated hybrid solution combining wind, solar, and biogas further exacerbates these challenges. It should be noted that the initial design of this study incorporated biogas as a third energy source alongside solar PV and wind, with the intention of modelling a fully hybrid three-source system. During the feasibility assessment phase, however, it became evident that a single restaurant does not generate sufficient organic waste to make biogas production practically viable. This study investigates how a hybrid system integrating wind, solar, and gas can provide continuous, cost-effective power for an off-grid restaurant in Cape Town. Using MATLAB Simulink as a simulation tool and Renewable Energy Technology Screen, system performance, cost, and reliability were analysed under varying environmental conditions. Results show that no configuration fully met the daily demand of 336.24 kWh; the best scenario produced 290.18 kWh/day, indicating the need for additional supply or storage. The findings highlight the complexity of achieving energy security and provide a framework for resilient hybrid energy strategies.

Keywords

Hybrid energy systems; Off-grid power; Renewable integration; Simulation; Small business optimization, Energy security