Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria
The developing world continues to face substantial obstacles to achieving affordable and dependable electricity access. This issue is especially pertinent for Nigeria, where diesel generators are widely relied upon in urban and rural regions because of an underdeveloped and unreliable national grid....
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Energy Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1454281/full |
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| author | Christopher Garrett Lewis Christopher Garrett Lewis Muzan Williams Ijeoma Muzan Williams Ijeoma Rahimat Oyiza Yakubu Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwu Hao Chen Michael Carbajales-Dale |
| author_facet | Christopher Garrett Lewis Christopher Garrett Lewis Muzan Williams Ijeoma Muzan Williams Ijeoma Rahimat Oyiza Yakubu Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwu Hao Chen Michael Carbajales-Dale |
| author_sort | Christopher Garrett Lewis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The developing world continues to face substantial obstacles to achieving affordable and dependable electricity access. This issue is especially pertinent for Nigeria, where diesel generators are widely relied upon in urban and rural regions because of an underdeveloped and unreliable national grid. The lack of grid reliability is worsened in Northeastern Nigeria, an area plagued by conflict, extreme poverty, and grid infrastructure deterioration. This study investigates the feasibility of implementing community-scale microgrids in rural areas without grid connection access. It focuses on assessing the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of utilizing these microgrids to deliver inexpensive and dependable electricity to underserved populations to increase energy access. A case study was conducted in Kabuiri, a village with an estimated population of 2,300 residents and an estimated load demand of 610 kWh per day. A hybrid microgrid system was designed and optimized to meet the community’s load demand using HOMER software, sized to produce 610 kWh/day of electricity with a renewable penetration of 99%. The optimal solar PV/battery/generator system had a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of $ 0.093 per kWh, a net present cost (NPC) of $266,709, and an annual operating cost of $9,110. The system contributed 1,624 kg CO2 eq/year of global warming potential and 56.81 kg O3 eq/year of smog formation during operation. Sensitivity analysis showed that the system could effectively react to or adapt to substantial increases in diesel prices, requiring only marginal increases in photovoltaic capacity and reduced generator usage to maintain the most cost-efficient operation. Additionally, the system model can be adapted based on the population of the remote community without substantially impacting the LCOE, however, the NPC increases with increase in population size. This research will aid in increasing energy access in remote locations by providing insights to stakeholders and energy access project developers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-06a559ad1c874490b5ce2e1cb91f43de |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-598X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Energy Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-06a559ad1c874490b5ce2e1cb91f43de2025-08-20T02:12:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2024-10-011210.3389/fenrg.2024.14542811454281Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast NigeriaChristopher Garrett Lewis0Christopher Garrett Lewis1Muzan Williams Ijeoma2Muzan Williams Ijeoma3Rahimat Oyiza Yakubu4Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwu5Hao Chen6Michael Carbajales-Dale7Energy-Economy-Environment (E3) Sustainable Analysis Group, Clemson University, Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson, SC, United StatesDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United StatesEnergy-Economy-Environment (E3) Sustainable Analysis Group, Clemson University, Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson, SC, United StatesDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, The Brew Hammond Energy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, The Brew Hammond Energy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, The Brew Hammond Energy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, GhanaEnergy-Economy-Environment (E3) Sustainable Analysis Group, Clemson University, Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson, SC, United StatesEnergy-Economy-Environment (E3) Sustainable Analysis Group, Clemson University, Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson, SC, United StatesThe developing world continues to face substantial obstacles to achieving affordable and dependable electricity access. This issue is especially pertinent for Nigeria, where diesel generators are widely relied upon in urban and rural regions because of an underdeveloped and unreliable national grid. The lack of grid reliability is worsened in Northeastern Nigeria, an area plagued by conflict, extreme poverty, and grid infrastructure deterioration. This study investigates the feasibility of implementing community-scale microgrids in rural areas without grid connection access. It focuses on assessing the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of utilizing these microgrids to deliver inexpensive and dependable electricity to underserved populations to increase energy access. A case study was conducted in Kabuiri, a village with an estimated population of 2,300 residents and an estimated load demand of 610 kWh per day. A hybrid microgrid system was designed and optimized to meet the community’s load demand using HOMER software, sized to produce 610 kWh/day of electricity with a renewable penetration of 99%. The optimal solar PV/battery/generator system had a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of $ 0.093 per kWh, a net present cost (NPC) of $266,709, and an annual operating cost of $9,110. The system contributed 1,624 kg CO2 eq/year of global warming potential and 56.81 kg O3 eq/year of smog formation during operation. Sensitivity analysis showed that the system could effectively react to or adapt to substantial increases in diesel prices, requiring only marginal increases in photovoltaic capacity and reduced generator usage to maintain the most cost-efficient operation. Additionally, the system model can be adapted based on the population of the remote community without substantially impacting the LCOE, however, the NPC increases with increase in population size. This research will aid in increasing energy access in remote locations by providing insights to stakeholders and energy access project developers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1454281/fullhybrid micro-grid systems designlife cycle costlevelized cost of electricitynet present valuefinancial mechanismenergy access |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Garrett Lewis Christopher Garrett Lewis Muzan Williams Ijeoma Muzan Williams Ijeoma Rahimat Oyiza Yakubu Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwu Hao Chen Michael Carbajales-Dale Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria Frontiers in Energy Research hybrid micro-grid systems design life cycle cost levelized cost of electricity net present value financial mechanism energy access |
| title | Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria |
| title_full | Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria |
| title_short | Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria |
| title_sort | achieving universal energy access in remote locations using homer energy model a techno economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast nigeria |
| topic | hybrid micro-grid systems design life cycle cost levelized cost of electricity net present value financial mechanism energy access |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1454281/full |
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