Techno-economic analysis of robust gas-to-power distributed generation planning for grid stability and environmental sustainability in Nigeria

Abstract

With an average generating capacity of around 4000 MW of electricity for a population of over 200 million people, less than 50% of Nigerians have access to electricity. Nevertheless, Nigeria has one of the largest deposits of Natural gas, often disposed of by indiscriminate flaring. Natural gas has been classified as a clean-burning alternative energy source with enormous potential for meeting the immediate quest for sustainable energy transition worldwide. Thus, in this study, a techno-economic analysis to show the potential of investing in modern gas-to-power distributed generators (GtP-DGs) to enhance the electricity infrastructure and promote environmental sustainability in Nigeria was investigated. The grid stability limits and loss sensitivities are used for optimal locations for GtP-DGs and reactive power compensators along the existing grid. Particle swarm optimization with a time-varying acceleration coefficients algorithm is used to solve the formulated optimal gas and electricity power flow for optimal capacity sizing. Credible technical parameters of the grid’s operation in steady-state such as power loss, voltage magnitude, stability, and grid security, are analyzed using MATLAB®. Based on the obtained results, further investigation was done for economic and environmental impact assessments. The optimized amount of gas required for one hour of electricity was calculated to be about 9.060 × 106 CF with a financial saving of approximately USD 36,240 $. The percentage emission reduction expressed as a fraction of recovered gas fuel instead direct flaring is calculated as 14.12% for CO2, 0.34% for CH4 and 1.84% for N2O. The results show considerable technical and economic benefits and significant environmental sustainability paybacks for investment in robust natural gas technologies for immediate sustainable electrical energy production.