“…A comparison between classical optimization and meta-heuristic optimization techniques indicates that global optimality is not guaranteed for the solution provided by the latter [5]. In order to obtain a solution, meta-heuristic optimization techniques preform a search of the solution space of the problem to find near optimal solutions using a set of logical or empirical rules based on either social behavior, natural, biological, or physical occurrences [166]- [168]. Examples of meta-heuristic optimization techniques that have found applications in use for HRES modeling and design include simulated annealing (SA) [169], particle swarm optimization (PSO) [170]- [178], genetic algorithm (GA) [170], [179]- [187], ant colony (AC) algorithm [188]- [191], fruit fly optimization algorithm (FAO) [192], artificial bee colony (ABC) [193]- [197], artificial bee swarm (ABS) [198], Cuckoo Search algorithm [97], [170], discrete harmony search (DHS) [199], biogeography based optimization (BBO) [200]- [202], imperial competitive algorithm (ICA) [203], mine blast algorithm [204], brain storm optimization (BSO) [205].…”