This paper presents the optimal planning of PV-Wind-Biomass hybrid energy system, which includes back up power sources as battery bank and diesel generator. The cost of energy (COE) or electricity price is minimized as objective function using GA and PSO. The optimal configuration of hybrid system is obtained on the basis of minimum COE. The optimal solution is consists with high reliability, maximum value of renewable fraction, less emission and low penalty cost according to minimum COE. The reliability is computed on the basis of loss of power supply probability (LPSP), which is assumed 2% maximum in this case study. This paper aim's to present the techno-economic feasibility of pv-wind-biomass hybrid energy system (HES) for a case study of remote area of barwani district, India. The optimization results are presented for load following and cycle charging strategy and also compared the results using GA and PSO optimization techniques. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.