Abstract
The use of hybrid renewable energy systems among household consumers in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) is increasingly gaining attention. This is due to low electrification rates in many of the countries in SSA. A hybrid energy system for power generation combines various energy systems, either renewable or a combination of renewable and fossil-powered sources for optimal power extraction and operation. In the era of decarbonization of the electricity grid through the use of renewable energy, hybridization of sources is an essential condition for the production of electricity. Based on current quest for renewable energy (RE) expansion in the global energy mix, optimum conditions for the production and adoption of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) at micro-levels are indispensable and must be advocated for. This can be justified based on the perpetually rising cost of energy for socio-economic development. This paper presents a survey of major issues regarding the motivations and specific benefits behind the adoption of HRES. Also presented, is a discussion on different renewable energy sources that can be adopted for HRES application for both grid and off-grid consumers. Furthermore, a discussion on the important issues as it pertains to the design and implementation of HRES is also presented. Finally, a policy discussion on the affordability of HRES in a low-income household is presented.
Highlights
The global energy demand across all sectors of human endeavors has grown over the past few decades with many literature and reports on energy studies attributing this increase to socio-economic developments
DIRECTIONS To accomplish the sustainable developmental goal in relation to affordable and clean energy for all, there is a need to strengthen and direct research efforts into the use and adoption of RE. This is because many locations across the world have one or more abundant renewable energy resource that can be harnessed for electricity generation
Researchers and decision-makers have proposed the use of hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) as a realistic alternative for rural electrification and decarbonization of the electricity sector
Summary
The global energy demand across all sectors of human endeavors has grown over the past few decades with many literature and reports on energy studies attributing this increase to socio-economic developments. With electricity generation accounting for more than 42% of the global CO2 emission [18], the use of HRES is inevitable It will encourage the implementation of more renewable energy projects and reduce the operations of fossil-powered energy systems. With the emergence of cheap renewable energy technologies like wind turbine and solar PV, the hybridization of these renewable energy sources with the existing diesel/gas-powered generators offers cheaper electricity for consumers and more revenue for the utility company. Due to the concerns about water use policies, land use for food crops, and the undersubsidized features of renewable energy schemes in many developing countries, the use of biomass technologies for electricity generation is grossly underdeveloped and underutilized [63]–[65] This is evident from the contribution of biomass to the global renewable share in 2016. If the effects of temperature are neglected, the resulting expression is used for estimating the output of a PV solar panel:
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