Feasibility Study and Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Renewable Power System for off-Grid Rural Electrification in a Typical Remote Village Located in Nigeria

Jamiu O Oladigbolu,Makbul A M Ramli,Yusuf A Al-Turki

doi:10.1109/access.2020.3024676

Jamiu O Oladigbolu, Makbul A M Ramli + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.3024676

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Abstract

The introduction of a decentralized energy system in remote rural areas with limited or no access to power supply can improve the quality of life of people living in these areas. Renewable energy technology can play a key role in electricity generation, as grid expansion is not a cost-effective option. In this study, we focused on the techno-economic feasibility and optimal design of a hybrid micro-hydro-photovoltaic-diesel-battery-wind power system designed to electrify a typical remote village located in the southern part of Nigeria. We aimed at achieving the electrification at minimal cost while taking into cognizance the constraints of environmental pollutant emission. In this study, the technical details, as well as the economic feasibility of setting up such a power system, were determined using the hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources (HOMER) simulation tool. Different combinations of energy resources including solar, wind, hydro, and diesel were compared and analyzed. The system performance and economics using some determinant factors such as the cost of energy, operation, and maintenance cost, net present cost, excess electricity, capacity shortage, generator fuel consumption rates, and cost, load fulfillment, and CO2 and other pollutant gas emission savings were determined. The experimental results and the comparative analysis revealed that a hybrid hydro/PV/wind/diesel/battery system was the most ideal and preferred option for off-grid rural electrification. The simulation results also indicated that the optimal system had a net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE) of $1.01 m and $0.106/kWh, respectively, with a renewable fraction of 77.4% and environmental pollutant emission of 228,945 kg/year. This system was found to be environmentally friendly as it emitted the least pollutant gas among all the considered configurations. Bearing in mind the recent advocacy towards the actualization of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 7, this work was found to be in alignment with the tenet of “Affordable and Clean Energy.”

Highlights

At the end of 2016, about 24% of electricity was generated globally from renewable energy sources (RESs)
The hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources (HOMER) simulation tool was used to find the optimum configuration in hybrid energy system (HES) based on a techno-economic and environmental analysis corresponding to the chosen site of the Ekwe village, Nigeria
In this study, we designed a system for deployment to power a typical remote community in the southern part of Nigeria taking into consideration the available renewable energy sources

Summary

Introduction

At the end of 2016, about 24% of electricity was generated globally from renewable energy sources (RESs) This was up by 2.5% (i.e. 26.5%) in 2017 [1]. The availability and utilization of energy resources are among the key factors that determine the assets and growth of a country. In addition to its considerable amount of conventional energy resources (including those producing more than 2.5 million barrels of crude oil daily and 2.175 billion tons of coal and lignite, and 187 trillion ft of natural gas reserves [5].), Nigeria has the potential to integrate RESs for continuous power supply [5].

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