Analysis of a Hybrid Solar Power System as a Potential Substitute in Selected Southern Nigerian Economic Activity Areas

The performance of hybrid solar power systems consisting of grid supply (GS), diesel power generation (DPG), solar-photovoltaic (SPV), and battery storage (BS) systems in two economic activity areas (EAAs; education and industry) in Southern Nigeria was assessed in this study. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select the EAAs labeled EAA1 and EAA2. The samples drawn from locations in Oyo and Ogun States in Southern Nigeria were aggregated and used for the study. Electricity consumption was obtained from electricity load demand and evaluated for the period 2008–2017 for the EAAs. An integrated renewable energy mini/microgrid model (IREMMM) based on electricity load demand and solar irradiance of the locations was developed for all the EAAs. Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) ($/kWh), net present cost (NPC) ($M) for one hybrid configuration; SPV-DPG-BS-GS, and two standalone configurations; DPG and SPV-BS were determined. The electricity consumptions were 254,040 and 213,890 kWh/yr. The LCOEs for EAA1 and EAA2, for different configurations, are respectively for SPV-DPG-BS-GS (−1.88 and −0.28); SPV-BS (22.7 and 24.38), and DPG (126.12 and 94.75) The general performance for LCOE was thus of the order of EAA2 > EAA1. The NPCs for EAA1 and EAA2 are respectively SPV-DPG-BS-GS (−16.7 and −34.6); SPV-BS (47.5 and 880); and DPG (294 and 3805). The NPCs were of the order EAA2 > EAA1. Configurations with SPV-integrated systems have attractive LCOEs compared to DPGs in both EAAs. The solar photovoltaic combinations with battery storage had the best performance for a hybrid power system in Southern Nigeria. Overall, better performance is achieved for a hybrid power system in EAA2 and industrial settings.