Integrating hydrogen into a hybrid system to meet a laboratory's electricity demand

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Providing quality electricity to improve the living conditions of rural and urban populations in Africa, particularly in Cameroon, represents a challenging but achievable task. Indeed, Cameroon has the second largest hydrographic network in Central Africa, and thanks to this network, over 90% of electricity comes from aging hydroelectric dams that cause permanent power outages. The desire to take advantage of other benefits that nature has given this country has directed this work towards renewable energies. Thanks to the HOMER Pro software, a renewable energy hybrid system with hydrogen gas serving as storage and energy vector was adopted. Photovoltaic panels and wind turbines are proposed as primary energy sources for the permanent, low-cost supply of the IRAD laboratory at the University of Maroua. The software proposes three systems, one with the wind turbine as the only primary source, and considered as the most optimal. It has an energy cost equal to $0.0633, an NPC of $20330, and an initial capital of $8500. The other two systems are hybrids with a renewable fraction equal to 100%, and a load distribution strategy that is the charge cycle (CC) like the first system. The first less expensive hybrid system has an energy cost and an NPC respectively of $0.0778 and $24986. As for the second hybrid system, it has an NPC and an energy cost respectively of $26195 and $0.0778. Hydrogen fully plays its role as an energy vector and storage in all three systems. A sensitivity analysis was conducted in this work to ensure that the system proposed for the laboratory can also be adapted in the 9 other regions of the country. It appears that the values of wind resources, solar radiation, and temperature have a significant impact on the energy cost. The cities of Yaoundé and Ebolowa, displaying respective wind speeds of 2.07 m/s and 1.76 m/s, are recognized for having the lowest wind speeds in the country, which hinders the overall energy production and profitability of the system. The hybrid system suggested for these cities proves to be expensive, with energy costs exceeding the standard electricity price set by the energy distribution and marketing organization in the country.