A Free and open-source microgrid optimization tool: SAMA the solar alone Multi-Objective Advisor

[Display omitted] •SAMA, a new open-source microgrid optimization software, was introduced an validated.•Validation compared SAMA's results with industry-standard, Homer Pro proved accuracy.•Results for different locations and climates, confirming SAMA's reliability and accuracy.•SAMA introduces unique emission optimization and top-down pricing methodology for first time.•SAMA is open-source and free, which ensures accessibility and fosters innovation.•SAMA is broadly applicable for renewable, off-grid, grid-tied, and backup power systems. Although there are many software tools for simulations of hybrid energy systems, Homer Pro and Homer Grid are the only tools offering optimal sizing of hybrid energy systems. Originally developed as open-source software, they have been closed, which limits user-developers abilities to adapt and improve the software. In addition, all current proprietary offering suffer from the following limitations: i) high costs that limit accessibility to low-resource labs and individuals, ii) incapable of conducting multi-objective optimization, iii) constrained on any new innovations in hybrid energy system design and operation, iv) difficulties for users to specifically define prices and costs in inputs, v) inability to model different electric utility billing structures, vi) complex pricing methodology, and vii) the absence of machine learning-based predictive modeling. To overcome these limitations, this paper introduces and validates SAMA (Solar Alone Multi-objective Advisor), an open-source microgrid optimization software program designed to optimize hybrid energy system sizes economically using metaheuristic algorithms based on specific load profiles and meteorological data. Through rigorous validation exercises, SAMA's outcomes are compared against those generated by the Homer Pro software across distinct climatic conditions and geographical locations (i.e., Sacramento, California in the marine west coast and New Bern in humid continental climate zones of U.S., respectively). The results demonstrate congruence between SAMA and Homer Pro. SAMA can be used for a diverse array of applications from renewable energy systems to off-grid and grid-tied configurations, and from policy formulation to feasibility assessment. Unique features of SAMA include multi-objective optimizer, levelized emission optimization, different pre-defined utility billing structures, and a top-down pricing methodology. These features further enhance SAMA’s