Abstract
Traditional electrification methods, including grid extension and stand-alone diesel generators, have shown limitations to sustainability in the face of rural electrification challenges in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where electrification rates remain the lowest in the world. This study aims at performing a techno-economic analysis and optimization of a pumped-hydro energy storage based 100%-renewable off-grid hybrid energy system for the electrification of Djoundé, which is a small village in northern Cameroon. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software was used as an analysis tool, and the resulting optimal system architecture included an 81.8 kW PV array and a 15 kW biogas generator, with a cost of energy (COE) and total net present cost (NPC) of €0.256/kWh and €370,426, respectively. The system showed promise given the upcoming decrease in installation cost of photovoltaic systems. It will be viable in parts of SSA region but, significant investment subsidies will be needed elsewhere. The originality of this study can be emphasized in three points: (1) the modelling with the recently introduced pumped-hydro component of HOMER; (2) broadening sensitivity analysis applications to address practical issues related to hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES); and, (3) consideration of the agricultural sector and seasonal variation in the assessment of the electricity demand in an area of SSA.
Highlights
Energy, especially electricity, is a vital commodity for everyday life in the contemporary world.It is the primary driver for any human, social, or economic development
For all wind speed values that are below 6m/s, the PV array would be part of the optimal-system components, and the higher the solar radiation, the lower the net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE)
If only the changes in solar radiation and wind speed were taken into account, the optimal system type would be PV/Biogas/pumped hydro storage (PHS) and it would have COEs greater than €0.3/kWh in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) such as Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Southern Cameroon, Southern Nigeria and Congo, which experience average solar radiations below 5 kWh/day/m2, and wind speed less than 4.5 m/s [47,48]
Summary
Especially electricity, is a vital commodity for everyday life in the contemporary world. It is the primary driver for any human, social, or economic development. The issue was especially acute in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where 588 million people needed access to electrical energy. The rural electrification rate in the region was only 23%, as compared with 71% in urban areas While some countries, such as Ethiopia and Kenya, have experienced rural electrification above 50%, others, such as Chad and Mauritania, have achieved less than 5%
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