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Home > CIIMA > Vol. 24 (2026) > Iss. 1

 

Communications of the IIMA

Abstract

This paper evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of residential prosumer implementation in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the integration of photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery energy storage. A simulation‑based assessment was performed in HOMER Pro using a measured 12‑month household load profile with an average daily consumption of 11.25 kWh and a peak demand of 2.85 kW. Six system configurations were investigated, consisting of 3 kW, 4 kW, and 5 kW PV installations, each analyzed with and without a 5.04 kWh lithium‑ion battery, over a 25‑year project lifetime under a zero‑credit export scheme. Among the analyzed configurations, the 3 kW PV system without battery storage achieved the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 0.137 BAM/kWh, representing a 28% reduction compared to the grid tariff, with a simple payback period of 17 years and the highest Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 3.8%. The 4 kW PV system provided the most balanced operational performance, generating 4,954 kWh annually with imports and exports nearly equal, yielding an LCOE of 0.139 BAM/kWh and a 20‑year payback. The 5 kW PV system generates highest total renewable energy and full annual carbon neutrality, but its surplus generation provided limited additional financial benefit under the current net‑metering framework, which only offsets future bills rather than generating revenue. Battery storage integration substantially enhanced energy autonomy by increasing self‑consumption and renewable fraction (from 52% to 61% for the 3 kW system, and from 57% to 68% for the 4 kW system), but it raised LCOE to 0.198–0.202 BAM/kWh due to higher capital investment. The environmental assessment demonstrated that PV adoption significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, with the 3 kW system lowering annual CO₂ emissions by ~76%, the 4 kW system by ~92%, and the 5 kW system achieving net‑negative emissions. The results demonstrate that under zero‑sellback regulatory frameworks, PV sizing must prioritize direct self‑consumption matching. Moderate‑capacity PV installations therefore represent the most economically viable investments, while battery storage serves primarily as a driver of energy independence rather than immediate financial gain.

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