Optimizing grid energy management through the integration of inverter-based resources and community energy prosumers for sustainable energy systems

This study presents a simulation-based optimization framework designed to evaluate the integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) and community energy prosumers (CEPs) into regional electricity distribution systems, using West Java, Indonesia as a case study. By simulating five representative community nodes with empirical regional data, the model analyses investment feasibility, stakeholder profitability, and policy incentives such as interest rate subsidies, tariff support, and maintenance cost coverage. The model incorporates real-world grid conditions, enabling the evaluation of bidirectional power flows, localized self-consumption, and surplus energy exports. Sensitivity analyses are conducted across varying annual return expectations (15 % to 25 %), interest rates (5 % to 12 %), and energy storage costs (±20 %) to determine the robustness of the internal rate of return (IRR) for CEPs and breakeven points (BEP) for government investors. Results reveal that aligning policy support with realistic investment expectations significantly enhances CEP participation and cost recovery for governments.