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Abstract
Fossil fuel-based energy sources are the major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and thus the use of renewable energy (RE) is becoming the best alternative to cater for the increasing energy demand in both developing and developed nations. Chipendeke is a rural community in Zimbabwe, in which electricity demand is partially served by the only micro-hydro plant and hence, load shedding is a regular practice to keep essential services running. This study explored a suitable opportunity to identify a feasible system with different energy sources that can fulfill the current and projected future load demand of the community. A techno-economic feasibility study for a hybrid RE based power system (REPS) is examined considering various energy sources and cost functions. Six different system configurations have been designed with different sizing combinations to identify the most optimum solution for the locality considering techno-economic and environmental viability. The performance metrics considered to evaluate the best suitable model are; Net Present Cost (NPC), Cost of Energy (COE), Renewable Fraction (RF), excess energy and seasonal load variations. In-depth, sensitivity analyses have been performed to investigate the variations of the studied models with a little variation of input variables. Of the studied configurations, an off-grid hybrid Hydro/PV/DG/Battery system was found to be the most economically feasible compared to other configurations. This system had the lowest NPC and COE of $ \$ $ 307,657 and $ \$ $ 0.165/kWh respectively and the highest RF of 87.5%. The proposed hybrid system could apply to any other remote areas in the region and anywhere worldwide.
Highlights
Energy electrical energy is an essential part of modern days living, business and innovation
CASE STUDY: CHIPENDEKE MICRO-HYDRO POWER SCHEME This study considers a stand-alone power system that is already in operation in a rural settlement named Chipendeke in Zimbabwe to analyse and show that such systems have a significant influence on communities
RESEARCH GAPS and CONTRIBUTIONS Considering the needs of Chipendeke community as well as for Zimbabwe, this research aims to investigate the potentials of hybrid RE based power system (REPS) including existing hydro for Chipendeke community with an emphasis on techno-economic and environmental benefits
Summary
Energy electrical energy is an essential part of modern days living, business and innovation. Electricity increases the potential to improve living standards, increase opportunity, improve health, productivity and reduces poverty [1]–[3]. It is considered a basic human right for modern-day living, it is not experienced by all. GM Shafiullah et al.: Prospects of Hybrid Renewable Energy-Based Power System services [4]. One example of such a nation is Zimbabwe, in which only 42% of its total population has access to electricity, with a rural electrification rate of only 13% [5], [6]. Due to unsustainable wood harvesting and clearing of lands for agriculture, the country faces fuelwood shortages and increased siltation of rivers affecting electricity generation from run-of-theriver hydro project, such as the case of Chipendeke, South of Mutare in Zimbabwe [7]
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