Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Emmanuel Oluwatobi Badmus ¹
• Dorota Nowak-Woźnya ²
• Temitope Adefarati ³
• Gulshan Sharma ⁴
• Oluwamurewa Precious Odekunle ⁵
• Adeniyi Kehinde Onaolapo ⁶
• Femi Bamidele Egunlusi ⁷
• Sunday Gbenga Borisade ⁸
• Abraham Olusola Oloye ⁹
• Lateef Adekunle Yusuf ¹⁰

¹ Department Of Electrical And Electronic Engineering, Federal University Oye Ekiti

² Department of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland

³ Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria

⁴ Department of Electrical Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa

⁵ Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Ashesi University, Ghana

⁶ Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

⁷ Department of Finanance, Federal University Oye Ekiti

⁸ Department of Material and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria

⁹ Department of Bio-Resources Engineering, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria

¹⁰ Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents comprehensive research on the potential of photovoltaic systems to improve electricity access in Kakuma, Kenya that houses a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees camp. The study uses Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) to assess viability from economic, environmental and technical standpoints for proposed hybrid resource energy system (HRES). Among the five configurations, configuration 2 that consists of utility grid, PV system, battery and converter is the most suitable solution due to the limited grid infrastructure with levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.119/kWh, net present cost (NPC) of $8.38 million and annualized savings of $203,027. It can be established from the outcomes of the study that the values of LCEO, NPC, energy purchased from the grid, CO2 emission and operating cost have reduced by 30.59%, 24.50%, 42.48%, 42.48% and 38.49% when compared to the base system (grid only). The sensitivity analysis revealed that the availability of solar resources is the most significant factor that influences the economic feasibility of the power system. The study provides valuable insights into the potential of solar resources to expand energy access in remote regions while demonstrating that HRES is a feasible solution for the electrification of rural communities.

Keywords

• Battery system
• Hybrid renewable energy system
• Levelized cost of energy
• Photovoltaic system
• Solar converter
• Solar irradiance