Technical and Economic Assessment of Hybrid Energy Systems in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

The technical and economic assessment of using hybrid energy system for electricity generation in rural communities in the south-west of Nigeria is investigated in this study. Renewable resources (wind and solar data) in Ibadan located on the latitude of 7.43 °N and longitude 3.91 °E are used. Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable software has been employed to carry out the present study. It was found that Wind-PV-Generator-Battery hybrid system is most suitable option as stand-alone electricity generating system in Ibadan. The optimal simulation results indicate that the levelised cost of energy for this hybrid energy system varies between $0.437/kWh and $0.606/kWh depending on the diesel price. These costs are significantly lower than the cost of using diesel generator only (without battery) which varies between $0.607 and $0.940 per kWh. It was further observed that there is a significant reduction in emission produced if hybrid energy system is used instead of only generator based energy system. The most suitable hybrid systems in other locations in southwest Nigeria can be identified from the optimal energy system plots provided.