Load Profile Validation for Design of Sustainable Optimal Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract

This study focuses on the validation of load profile and energy usage of Itie-Ikpe, a rural community located in the southern part of Nigeria, for the purpose of designing sustainable optimal hybrid renewable energy systems. A two-year monthly estimated load profile data was obtained from an energy distribution company, monthly averages and overall annual daily load demand of 557.59 kWh/d were determined using mathematical method while a field survey was conducted to obtain the actual load demand figure 562.25 kWh/d for the study community with a difference of 4.66 kWh/d. The two independent results were comparatively analyzed with the field survey result higher than the estimated value obtained from the energy distribution company by 0.84%. Findings also showed that the error margin or difference was relatively negligible with little or no significant effect on the design of the optimal hybrid renewable energy system. Therefore, the daily load demand figure from the field survey result validated the average daily load demand value determined from the obtained estimates. This validation is a crucial step in designing an optimal hybrid renewable energy system for energy sustainability of the study community, as the modeling and selection of systems components of the hybrid renewable energy system depends on the knowledge of accurate average daily load demand in order to avoid design of ineffective energy systems whose performances might not be optimal.