Optimal multi-objective sizing of a residential microgrid in Egypt with different ToU demand response percentages.

• The electrical power generation role for sustainable development and facing the environmental problems of CO 2 emissions increase from electric power generation and burning rice straw. • Multi-objective optimal sizing approach of a real new constructed area on the northern coast of Egypt using renewable energy sources. • The environmental and economic effects of rice straw recycling through using it as biomass fuel for electricity generation in rural areas and cities surrounded by rural areas, either in isolated or grid-connected microgrids. • Comparison between different sizing strategies according to the availability of power conversion sources. • The effect of time of use demand response on system sizing. • The impact of the participation percentage increase in DR programs on the renewable energy share and the net present cost. Many countries encourage the establishment of microgrids to support the spread of renewable energy sources, as it is the best option for dealing with electricity problems and air pollution. In this study, four sizing scenarios of a residential microgrid in a northern Egyptian city surrounded by rural areas are introduced as an interpretative example to explore the optimal scheduling strategy. This paper's novelty originated from the techno-economic and ecological performance comparison of different sizing strategies for a residential load based on renewable sources, considering load shifting algorithms and using rice straw as biomass fuel instead of its open-field burning. The proposed optimization algorithm illustrates that the PV/WG/Biomass/two-ways-grid-connection microgrid is the best investable-reliable sizing option with a minimum net present cost of about ($ 0.7073 m i l l i o n), which is reduced by ($ 0.1664 m i l l i o n) when 30% demand response participation is applied. Also, the PV/WG/Biomass system has the most significant environmental impact with a C O 2 emissions reduction of around (3.465 * 10 8 kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]