Document Type : Reseach Article
10.57647/j.mjee.2025.1901.13
Abstract
In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, this study analyses the hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)-diesel generator system’s feasibility for reliable electricity supply to a mini-mart in Ajase-Ipo, Nigeria. Utilizing HOMER software, the system was modelled and optimized with a focus on both technical and economic factors. The optimal configuration comprises a 10.2 kW solar PV system, 8 batteries, a 6-kW converter, and a 10-kW diesel generator, meeting the annual energy demand of 29,200 kWh. The system’s technical performance is highlighted by a capacity utilization factor of 17.9% and a performance ratio of 82.16%, demonstrating the efficiency of the solar PV system. However, heavy reliance on diesel fuel, with an annual consumption of 5,632 litres, leads to a high levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 306.16 per kWh. This underscores the need for strategies to reduce diesel dependency and improve long-term economic viability through improved solar capture and optimized battery storage. The system also demonstrates significant environmental benefits, with CO2 emissions reduced by 8,614 kg annually, alongside reductions in other harmful pollutants such as CO, SO2, and NOx. These findings reinforce the potential of renewable energy to provide a more sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for electricity generation in similar contexts.
Keywords
[1] S. O. Sanni, J. Y. Oricha, T. O. Oyewole, and F. I. Bawonda, “Analysis of backup power supply for unreliable grid using hybrid solar PV/diesel/biogas system,” Energy, vol. 227, p. 120506, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.1016/J.ENERGY.2021.120506.
[2] A. Halim, A. Fudholi, K. Sopian, and S. J. Phillips, “Performance of hybrid solar photovoltaic–diesel generator and battery storage design for rural electrification in Malaysia,” International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, vol. 16, no. 5, 2021, doi: 10.18280/ijsdp.160509.
[3] R. D. Trevizan, A. J. Headley, R. Geer, S. Atcitty, and I. Gyuk, “Integration of energy storage with diesel generation in remote communities,” MRS Energy and Sustainability, vol. 8, no. 2, 2021, doi: 10.1557/s43581-021-00013-9.
[4] W. K. Al-Azzawi et al., “Economic Optimization of Combination of Wind, Solar, and Battery Storage for Grid-Independent Power Supply using Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm,” Majlesi Journal of Electrical Engineering, vol. 17, no. 3, 2023.
[5] I. H. Ibrik and F. Salameh, “Techno-Economic Impact of Electrification Rural Areas in Palestine using Micro-Grid Solar Energy ‘Al-Mkahel and Saeed Villages – Case Study,’” Majlesi Journal of Electrical Engineering, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 9–14, Jun. 2021, doi: 10.52547/mjee.15.2.9.
[6] A. F. Altun and M. Kilic, “Design and performance evaluation based on economics and environmental impact of a PV-wind-diesel and battery standalone power system for various climates in Turkey,” Renew Energy, vol. 157, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.05.042.
[7] O. Khaled, M. Zahid, T. Zahid, and T. Ilahi, “Techno-Economic Feasibility of Hybrid Energy Systems Installation in Pakistan,” IEEE Access, vol. 12, 2024, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3376409.
[8] T. Kushida and R. Abe, “Optimal design of a grid connected PV-diesel hybrid system,” in EEEIC 2016 - International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering, 2016. doi: 10.1109/EEEIC.2016.7555493.
[9] Š. Aganović and L. Cikotić, “PV - Battery - Diesel Standalone Hybrid System for Campus of International Burch University,” in Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 2023. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-17697-5_25.
[10] L. Olatomiwa, R. Blanchard, S. Mekhilef, and D. Akinyele, “Hybrid renewable energy supply for rural healthcare facilities: An approach to quality healthcare delivery,” Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, vol. 30, pp. 121–138, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2018.09.007.
[11] S. O. Sanni, A. AWAISU, and T. S. AJAYI, “Optimal Design and Cost Analysis of Hybrid Autonomous Distributed Generation System for a Critical Load,” EMITTER International Journal of Engineering Technology, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 337–353, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.24003/emitter.v6i2.302.
[12] S. J. al-D. Hosseini, M. Moazzami, and H. Shahinzadeh, “Optimal sizing of an isolated hybrid wind/PV/battery system with considering loss of power supply probability,” Majlesi Journal of Electrical Engineering, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 63–69, 2017.
[13] J. Abu-Taha and H. Shaheen, “Developing a Micro-Grid modeling approach for Nasser Medical Complex energy demand in the Gaza Strip,” in 8th International Engineering Conference on Renewable Energy and Sustainability, ieCRES 2023, 2023. doi: 10.1109/ieCRES57315.2023.10209494.
[14] P. Ahmed et al., “Feasibility and Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hybrid Photovoltaic System: A Rural Healthcare Center in Bangladesh,” Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 15, no. 2, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15021362.
[15] Y. W. Koholé, F. C. V. Fohagui, C. A. Wankouo Ngouleu, and G. Tchuen, “An effective sizing and sensitivity analysis of a hybrid renewable energy system for household, multi-media and rural healthcare centres power supply: A case study of Kaele, Cameroon,” Int J Hydrogen Energy, vol. 49, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.093.
[16] M. Harmen, N. Julai, A. K. Othman, H. Aznan, and G. Kulanthaivel, “Techno-economic Analysis of a Stand-alone Photovoltaic-Diesel Hybrid System for Rural Area in Sarawak,” International Journal of Integrated Engineering, vol. 12, no. 6, 2020, doi: 10.30880/IJIE.2020.12.06.016.
[17] M. Eidiani and S. Mahnani, “Optimally and Independent planned microgrid with solar-wind and biogas hybrid renewable systems by HOMER,” Majlesi Journal of Electrical Engineering, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 153–158, 2023.
[18] S. S. Raghuwanshi and R. Arya, “Reliability evaluation of stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic energy system for rural healthcare centre,” Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, vol. 37, p. 100624, Feb. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2019.100624.
[19] Z. W. J. Al-Shammari, M. M. Azizan, and A. S. F. Rahman, “Feasibility of pv-wind-diesel hybrid renewable energy power system for off-grid rural electrification in Iraq: A case study,” Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, vol. 16, no. 3, 2021.
[20] A. S. Almashakbeh, A. A. Arfoa, and E. S. Hrayshat, “Techno-economic evaluation of an off-grid hybrid PV-wind-diesel-battery system with various scenarios of system’s renewable energy fraction,” Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, doi: 10.1080/15567036.2019.1673515.
[21] H. Yousefi and M. H. Ghodusinejad, “Feasibility Study of a Hybrid Energy System for Emergency Off-grid Operating Conditions.,” Majlesi Journal of Electrical Engineering, vol. 11, no. 3, 2017.
[22] I. K. Rice, H. Zhu, C. Zhang, and A. R. Tapa, “A Hybrid Photovoltaic/Diesel System for Off-Grid Applications in Lubumbashi, DR Congo: A HOMER Pro Modeling and Optimization Study,” Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 15, no. 10, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15108162.
[23] J. Baranda Alonso, P. Sandwell, and J. Nelson, “The potential for solar-diesel hybrid mini-grids in refugee camps: A case study of Nyabiheke camp, Rwanda,” Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, vol. 44, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2021.101095.
[24] E. Mulenga, A. Kabanshi, H. Mupeta, M. Ndiaye, E. Nyirenda, and K. Mulenga, “Techno-economic analysis of off-grid PV-Diesel power generation system for rural electrification: A case study of Chilubi district in Zambia,” Renew Energy, vol. 203, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.12.112.
[25] O. D. T. Odou, R. Bhandari, and R. Adamou, “Hybrid off-grid renewable power system for sustainable rural electrification in Benin,” Renew Energy, vol. 145, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.06.032.
[26] H. I. Elegeonye et al., “Techno-Economic Optimization of Mini-Grid Systems in Nigeria: A Case Study of a PV–Battery–Diesel Hybrid System,” Energies (Basel), vol. 16, no. 12, 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16124645.
[27] J. T. Zarmai, I. I. Alabi, E. E. Ebisine, M. T. Zarmai, and O. D. Irefu, “Design and Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Hybrid Mini-grid System for an Academic Institution,” Journal of Energy and Power Technology, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 1–16, 2024, doi: 10.21926/jept.2402010.
[28] T. O. Araoye et al., “Modeling and optimization of hybrid microgrid energy system: a case study of University of Abuja, Nigeria,” International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems (IJPEDS), vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 1201–1209, 2023, doi: 10.11591/ijpeds.v14.i2.pp1201-1209.
[29] Y. M. Khalifa, S. M. Syour, and F. S. Alargt, “Optimal Design of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System Powering Mobile Radio Base Station in Libya,” in 2021 IEEE 1st International Maghreb Meeting of the Conference on Sciences and Techniques of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering, MI-STA 2021 - Proceedings, 2021. doi: 10.1109/MI-STA52233.2021.9464498.
[30] N. E. Benti et al., “Techno-economic analysis of solar energy system for electrification of rural school in Southern Ethiopia,” Cogent Eng, vol. 9, no. 1, 2022, doi: 10.1080/23311916.2021.2021838.
[31] B. Terang and D. C. Baruah, “Techno-economic and environmental assessment of solar photovoltaic, diesel, and electric water pumps for irrigation in Assam, India,” Energy Policy, vol. 183, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113807.
[32] Z. Ismaila et al., “Evaluation of a hybrid solar power system as a potential replacement for urban residential and medical economic activity areas in southern Nigeria.,” AIMS Energy, vol. 11, no. 2, 2023, doi: 10.3934/energy.2023017.
[33] L. Olatomiwa, O. M. Longe, T. A. Abd’Azeez, J. G. Ambafi, K. E. Jack, and A. A. Sadiq, “Optimal Planning and Deployment of Hybrid Renewable Energy to Rural Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria,” Energies (Basel), vol. 16, no. 21, 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16217259.
[34] A. O. Issa, A. I. Abdullateef, A. Sulaiman, A. Y. Issa, M. J. E. Salami, and M. A. Onasanya, “Optimal Sizing of Photovoltaic System for Grid-tied Consumer considering the Economic Perspective: A Case Study of Commercial Load Ilorin, Nigeria,” Iranian Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 19, no. 3, 2023, doi: 10.22068/IJEEE.19.3.2746.
[35] V. Suresh Kumar, S. Parameswari, S. Charles Raja, and A. C. Vishnu Dharssini, “Machine Learning Infused Techno-Economic Evaluation of Commercial Building Hybrid Energy System,” in 2023 International Conference on Energy, Materials and Communication Engineering, ICEMCE 2023, 2023. doi: 10.1109/ICEMCE57940.2023.10434217.
[36] V. S. Kumar, S. Parameswari, S. C. Raja, and A. C. V. Dharssini, “Feasibility Analysis of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in a Commercial Building by Enhancing Renewable Resources using HOMER Software,” in 5th International Conference on Power, Control and Embedded Systems, ICPCES 2023, 2023. doi: 10.1109/ICPCES57104.2023.10076249.
[37] K. R. Ajao, R. M. Ambali, and M. O. Mahmoud, “Determination of the Optimal Tilt Angle for Solar Photovoltaic Panel in Ilorin, Nigeria,” Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 87–90, Feb. 2013, doi: 10.25103/jestr.061.17.
[38] B. K. Das, N. Hoque, S. Mandal, T. K. Pal, and M. A. Raihan, “A techno-economic feasibility of a stand-alone hybrid power generation for remote area application in Bangladesh,” Energy, vol. 134, pp. 775–788, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.06.024.
)