Synergizing hybrid renewable energy systems and sustainable agriculture for rural development in Nigeria

Abstract

This research explores the viability and importance of implementing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) in Nigeria's agriculture sector. Despite progress, most rural regions still struggle with unreliable electricity. HRES provides a way to power agricultural endeavors while promoting sustainability, economic viability, and ecological conservation. A case study involving renewable energy applications for powering a typical Nigerian farm facility is also presented. Based on the review's findings, while 53.1 % of the journals analyzed were primarily concerned with community load, the agricultural sector received much less coverage, especially in rural areas. For the case study, solar PV dominates the HRES (98.3 %) electricity production, with biogas and wind turbines contributing the rest. The project costs $1,782,602 over 25 years, with competitive energy costs and a discounted payback time of 7.22 years. Environmentally, carbon dioxide emissions are negligible (16 kg/yr), and excess electricity production offers income potential for the farm facility. Overall, HRES is presented as an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective way to change rural farm operations, emphasizing the critical need to integrate energy and agriculture. Still, challenges such as inaccurate data, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent policy dynamics remain. In addition, the work highlights an area where more study is needed, namely the use of MCDM analysis for selecting the optimal energy system based on multiple criteria. Utilizing HRES in agriculture is consistent with the SDGs and will increase agricultural productivity, self-sufficiency, and environmental friendliness in Nigeria.