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PV-Diesel Hybrid Power System for a Small

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 International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering Technology
Volume 1, Issue 4, July-2015, ISSN (Online): 2395-566X

PV-Diesel Hybrid Power System for a Small Village in

Nigeria
Omorogiuwa Eseosa
Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering
University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
oomorogiuwa@yahoo.com; eseosa.omorogiuwa@uniport.edu.ng
Okpo Ekom Enefiok
Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering
Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpat Enin, Nigeira

Abstract Off-grid remote electrification with the aid of Hybrid Power System (HPS) has become cost-effective and
convenient alternative for areas where grid connection is neither available nor feasible. HPS combines two or more modes of
electricity generation together; usually using renewable technologies such as Solar, Wind etc. This research focus on creating
a model for electricity generation from mix of renewable resources to satisfy the electrical needs of an off-grid remote village of
Bakpo in Eleme L.G.A. of Rivers State, Nigeria using HOMER software. The HPS selected for this village scenario comprises
of biomass, gas turbine, solar PV associated with battery and converter. Load demand pattern over different seasons was
studied and suitably modeled using HOMER. The solution obtained shows that the use of decentralized hybrid power systems
at an off-grid location is the best alternative to grid extension. More so, it is sustainable, techno-economically feasible and
environmentally friendly. Total Net Present Cost (NPC) was used as a yardstick to measure the viability and feasibility of the
project.

Keywords Hybrid,Renewable,PV-Diesel,Biomass,Nigeria

I. INTRODUCTION this problem due to enormous availability of renewable

Economic growth and development of any nation
requires energy. Nigeria as a developing country of over
one hundred and fifty million people, were majority of its
populace lives in rural areas without access to electricity,
has serious challenge of supplying adequate energy to its
large population. Current energy demand of over
40,000MW is far less than available hovering around
2,900MW-4,000MW, yet there are enormous energy
resources (renewable) all over the nation. Before now,
non-renewable energy source such as fossil fuel had been
the major means of generating electricity. The high
dependence on it has resulted in consequential
implications like fuel price fluctuation environmental
hazard and global warming. (Omorogiuwa Eseosa and
Uhunmwangho R 2014) it is time to think alternative
energy source. Therefore, it is obvious that hybrid power
is an alternative to conventional energy source (Ani, 2013)
most especially due to its positive impact on the
ecosystem. Majority of rural settlements in Nigeria are
deprived of steady electricity supply from national grid.
For this reason, an isolated system is required in remote
areas with the use of locally available energy resources.
HPS combines two or more means of electricity
generation and are generally independent of large electric
grid systems and are used to feed loads to remote areas
that are off-grid, as this pose big challenge to electric
power utilities companies. Extension of central electricity
grid to such are as is either financially not viable or
practically not feasible as these locations are either
geographically isolated or sparsely populated. Village
electrification is a vital step for improving the socio-
economic conditions of rural areas and crucial forth
country's overall development and better standard of living
(Biodun et al, 2012).HPS provide formidable solution to
natural energy sources to generate electricity (Balaet al,
2009).
Against the background of electricity problems rural
communities are facing, the study will evaluate HPS with
the following objectives:
Provide electricity to the un-electrified remote village
through HPS source.
Improve the socialeconomic activities of the village
This work aim to assess the benefit of HPS and using
the village to propose the way forward and how it may be
introduced elsewhere in Nigeria.
II. REVIEW OF RELATED WORKS
There have been several studies on off-grid electricity
generation in Nigeria. Different techniques and approaches
have been used in relation to various scenarios and
circumstances, including evaluation of Solar Photo Voltaic
(SPV), Diesel Generator (DG), and fuel cells amongst
others. Research on HPS combining renewable and fossil
derived electricity started 25years ago, but few have
written papers about system implementation and
experimental data collection (Poopola et al, 2013).
According to Ani (2013), the research describing
renewable energy hybrid systems appeared in themid-
eighties, but literature on hybrid systems did not blossom
until the early1990s. Initially, this expansion in hybrid
literature was driven by then eed to increase grid stability
and reliability as large quantities of wind power were
being added to small autonomous grid. Researchers then
used optimization techniques to model how HPS can
reduce electricity generation costs over conventional fossil
fuel systems (Ashari and Nayar, 2012). Bala et al (2000)
used genetic algorithms (GA) to assess optimal size of a

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stand-alone hybrid system to minimize its costs and
concluded that using wind-solar hybrid system is cheaper
than to rely on one of these resources individually. During
their analysis, various technical details of the system such
as PV modules tilt angle, installation height of wind
turbines etc, that were significant for the installation and
maintenance costs were considered. A case study on
Dahran and its energy demand of 620,000 kWh/year was
conducted (Givler and Lienthal, 2005). A hybrid SPV-DG-
battery system, with 175 kW DG and 80kW SPV was
built. The authors envisaged several scenarios in their
study and examined the difficulties arising in various
scenarios such as unmet load situations, emission
decrease, excess electricity and energy cost. A
combination of SPV and a small wind turbine with fuel
cells was used by Chiemeka and Chinekein 2003. The
combination with fuel cells for excess electricity was
found to be well suited for remote village applications.
Kassam in 2010, developed designs of solar-wind hybrid
systems to supply electricity to remote areas of Australia.
These hybrid RET systems were studied with different
configurations of switched, parallel, and series
connections. Also concerned with the right sizing of
solar-wind hybrid system is the study by Lietzmann et al
in 2002. A method to determine the exact demand load of
the location and to calculate the appropriate size of SPV
array with batteries for best results was formulated. Khan
and Iqbal in 2005 investigated the feasibility of hybrid
systems with hydrogen as energy carrier in New found
land, Canada. The energy carrier was introduced to
alleviate disadvantages of stand-alone system (for example
high battery costs, limited storage and low capacity).
Several renewable and non-renewable carriers were
discussed, comparing their environmental friendliness and
cost-efficiency using HOMER. In the end, combination of
wind turbines, Distributed Generators (DG) and batteries
was discovered to be the most efficient solution at the
given cost. (Okedu and Uhunmwangho 2014), in their
study used HOMER software to propose an optimization
solution of hybrid system of renewable energy for remote
areas asserted that in order to determine optimum system
configuration that would be more energy efficient, the net
present cost should be used as the basis for selection of
best operation conditions considering a system made up of
PV, wind turbine, AC diesel generator, battery and
converter system. A developed HPS model combining
SPV, DG and batteries to meet the load demand of an
electric machinery laboratory using HOMER software was
used for optimization and simulation of different
combinations (James, 2010).
According to Poopola (2013),HPS combine two or more
modes of electricity generation together, using renewable
technologies such as Solar, Wind turbines etc. Solar
photovoltaic configuration is one way to provide off-grid
electricity and can be employed in a tropical country like
Nigeria for any kind of electrical application. More studies
on the viability of HPS for remote villages have been
conducted by Ayodele et al. (2005) considering
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environmental and socio-economic factors and reached the
result that HPS is the best option in cases like this, mostly
because of high costs incurred when transmitting
electricity from conventional sources to extremely remote
locations. Anayo (2007)conducted a study on small remote
villages with low load factors and found that stand-alone
HPS can be an attractive alternative to grid extension.
Several studies on stand-alone HPS showed that this
technology is generally not a cost-effective alternative to
grid extension. Only where the grid would have to be
extended by more than 20km, stand-alone SPV becomes
financially attractive. According to Ahmed (2002), rural
area located in Kaduna in Northern Nigeria, where 99.5%
are of rural households and 80% of the households in
cities are not grid-connected. The researcher examined the
use of stand-alone HPS to improve this scenario and
summarized that in order to make HPS readily available,
the government policies concerning it and key market
barriers hampering its fast dispersion must be eliminated.
The work was extended to combination of stand-alone
SPV with DGs. It was observed that SPV were techno-
economically more efficient and gave an output of
15kWh/day and 68kWh/day when the economic
circumstances were better, making SPV market-
competitive. Biodun et al (2013) assessed the suitability of
stand-alone renewable energy (RE) systems to meet
energy demands of big hotels (large-scale enterprises) and
found that wind energy is more cost-efficient than SPV, as
the latter has the disadvantage of requiring lots of space
for large-scale energy production.
III. METHODOLOGY
Various modeling techniques are developed to model
components of HPS. General methodologies for modeling
HPS components such as PV, turbine set, and battery used
are described.
3.1 Modeling of PV System
In order to achieve best performance, PV modules must
operate at maximum power point (MPP). Power generated
by DC power and PV cell temperature are calculated using
equations 3.1 and 3.2 respectively
= N (3.1)
= (1 + ( ))* (3.2)
The temperature of PV cells is a function of weather
conditions and PV cells characteristics.
3.2 Modeling of Battery Bank
Surplus power produced by PV modules is used to
charge the battery bank. The batteries charging current
(ICO) is limited by the charge controller to the maximum
allowable charging current I.Cmax and SOC must be equal
to or less than S.O.Cmax. Charging current ICO is
calculated as:
= + 1 (3.3)
Where C is charge controller efficiency (it is constant and
equal to 0.98 in the model); B1is the AC/DC converter
efficiency, though it varies insignificantly with the load
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Volume 1, Issue 4, July-2015, ISSN (Online): 2395-566X

and it is assumed to be constant at 0.9; VB is the system

=(13.3 + 59.8) 100 (3.8)
voltage and equals to 48V. In situations when power

required exceeds generated power from the battery, 3.4 Electrical Load Assessment
contributes to compensate for the shortfall power. The off-grid study was conducted in Bakpo, a remote rural
+
= (3.4) village in Eleme L.G.A near Port Harcourt, Rivers state,
1
Nigeria with a population of 100 people living in 40 houses.
The change in the battery capacity CD with a period of It has a primary school block with 4 class rooms and a health
time of t is and battery state of charge are calculated as center block with 2 rooms and located at Latitude 439N
shown in equations 3.5 and 3.6 respectively and Longitude 79E with average elevation of 460 meters
= ( )- (3.5) above sea level. It lack electricity supply due to non-
=(1) + (3.6) availability of grid network but requires power supply to
3.3 Modeling of Converter power appliances like tungsten filament bulbs, ceiling fans,
Mathematical Model of Power Converter of power security outdoor lights, television sets, etc. For the pre-
delivered by an inverter is given by: HOMER study, load requirement is calculated considering
= + (3.7) variations of season (rain and dry). Table 3.1 shows the
Mathematical relationship required by the inverter in village daily power demand.
order to fully supply power is shown in equation 3.8 where
is the discharge efficiency determined as:

Table3.1: Daily Power Demand for Bakpo Village

Components Power (W) Overall quantity Hrs/day Watt Hrs/day KwHrs/Day
Tungsten filament bulbs 40 150 9 54000 54
Ceiling fans 100 20 13 26000 26
Security outdoor light 60 30 9 16200 16.2
21 TV set 100 10 4 4000 4
Miscellaneous 100 20 20 4000 4
Total 400 104,200 104.2

3.5 HPS Components, Configuration and Operations

The proposed HPS for the village comprises PV
module, Battery, Bi-directional Power Converter,
Controller unit and turbine set as shown in figure 3.1. Its
configuration and operations using flow chart is shown in
figure 3.2. During the day, solar PV is the first choice and
only source of energy Solar (PV) which is DC power,
combines with one of the pre- stored charged batteries and
is converted to AC power by converter for the load (s) and
simultaneously charges the other batteries. During night Fig.3.1: Block Diagram of System Configuration
time, solar energy stored during daytime in battery is the
only source of energy while the turbine is off. The
converter converts DC to AC power for the load. Shortfall
can occur on any low solar- radiation day or on excessive
load demand resulting in low charging of battery and thus
system may encounter problem during end of day or night
period to meet the balance load power requirement of the
day. During shortfall, the battery reaches its maximum
discharge level and therefore, the turbine is made on.
During this period generator set serves the load as well as
charges both the batteries, one at a time or simultaneously,
till it resume full /sufficient voltage.

Fig.3.2. Flow Chart of System Operation and

Configuration during the day, night and shortfall.

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Volume 1, Issue 4, July-2015, ISSN (Online): 2395-566X
3.6 HOMER Software
HOMER (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric
Renewable), simplifies the task of evaluating designs of
both off-grid and grid-connected power systems for
various applications. Various selections of different
components like generators, PV arrays, battery banks and
other power system components via the add/remove button
are chosen as shown in Figure 3.3.
Fig.3.3
3.6.1 Load Input
Hourly load profile readings throughout the year for
both seasons (dry and rainy) was obtained and entered as
shown in figure 3.4. AC load data is obtained and
converted via a converter to Dc voltage that is produced
by PV module and DC voltage stored in Battery system.
Fig 3.4: Primary Load 1
Tungsten filament bulbs, ceiling fans, security outdoor
light and television were considered as primary load in this
study. The load type served is AC and changes during dry
and rainy seasons. The load demand is approximately
175kWh/day and 39.9 kW peak and off-peak with load
factor of 0.182.
3.6.2 Bio-Based Renewable Fuel
Latrine waste isone of the largest source of gas
emissions and its equivalent quantity from the village
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under study was also computed. The process produces
biogas, which comprises methane, carbon dioxide and
traces of other contaminant gases that can be used for
cooking, electricity generation etc.The resulting
calculation from latrines wastes to produce methane gas in
Bakpo village near Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, Nigeria
is as thus:
Let 1kWh = 3415btu.
With 0.34 as plant factor, gas turbine fuel consumption
of 3415/0.34 =10000Btu/kWh,
Net heating value of methane = 21433Btu/pound, then
methane consumption in a simple gas turbine is
10000/21433 =0.47pounds/kWh = 0.21kg/kWh
But, 1000litres = 1m 3; 22.4litres = 1mol; Molar mass of
methane (CH4) = 16g per mole
Then, 16mol-11000l m-31/22.4l = 714g/ m3; Volume
of human waste from each house = 5.0 m3. Total volume =
5.0 20 houses = 100m3
100 m3 0.714 =71.4 kg
If 1000 litres of village latrine waste produces 1000litres
of biogas, 71.4kg will produce 71.4m3 of biogas. Energy
produced from 71.4kg of biogas is 71.4kg /0.21kg/kWh =
340kWh
Recommending a 1kW biogas generator that can run for
340/24h = 14.17 i.e. approximately two weeks.
Density of human waste is approximately equal to the
density of water = 1000kg/ m3.
Mass of human waste = 1000 100 = 100000kg
Let assume that the village latrines pits are evacuated
after every two years, the mass per month =2083.3kg.ass
per day = 69.44kg. The available biomass waste in tonnes
per day is given as:
3662.5/1000 = 0.0694tonnes per day.
Fig.3.5. Biomass input in tonnes/day
3.6.3 Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Input
The SPV panels are connected in series- parallel. When
sunlight is incident on the surface of PV panel, it produces
electricity.
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capacity of 200 Ah (2.4 kWh). It has a lifetime throughput

of 917kWh. Capital, replacement as well as operation and
maintenance (O&M) costs for one unit of battery were
considered as $300, $300 and $4 respectively which are
equivalent to N55500, N 55500, and N 740/year in Nigeria
currencies respectively. The batteries charging and
discharging cycles are modelled in HOMER .
3.6.5 Converter Input
A converter is an electronic power device that is
required in a hybrid system to maintain the energy flow
between AC and DC electrical components.

Fig.3.6. SPV costs and technical parameters.

The capital cost and replacement cost for a 5kW SPV is

taken as $1500 and $1500 respectively which is equivalent
to N277500, N277500 Nigeria Naira respectively.
Since solar PV require little or no maintenance, only
$130/year which equivalent to N24, 050 in Nigeria
currencies is taken for O&M costs. Figure 3.7 also shows
that the SPV is connected to a DC output with a lifetime of
20 years. The difference between capital and replacement
cost is also shown in the cost curve in figure 3.6. The
derating factor considered is 80% for each panel to
approximate the changing effects of dust and temperature Fig.3.8. Converter cost and technical parameters
on the panels.
3.6.4 Battery Input Figure 3.9 shows the capital cost, replacement cost and
Batteries are used as a backup in the system and to O&M costs for 5kW converter, as $400, $400, and
maintain a constant voltage during peak loads or a $80/year respectively which is equivalent to N74000,
shortfall in generation capacity. HOMER models a N74000 and N14800 Nigeria currencies respectively.
number of individual batteries to create a battery bank Figure 3.8 shows the cost analysis curve, the lifetime of
connected in series-parallel connections. the converter of 15 years and inverter efficiency of 85%.
3.7.1 Solar Energy Resource
Solar resource used for the village at a location of 439'
N latitude and 79' E longitude was taken from NASA
Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy.

Fig.3.7: Vision 6FM200D Batterys costand technical

parameters.

The battery chosen for this study is as shown in Figure

3.8 Vision 6FM200D. It is a 12V battery with a nominal Fig.3.9: Solar Energy Resource. (Source: NASA website)

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Figure 3.9 shows solar resource profile considered over
a span of one year. The average clearness index and
annual average solar radiation was found to be 0.438scaled
and 4.37114kWh/m2/Day.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The economic analysis of electricity generation with
Hybrid Power System in the village of Bakpo was carried
in this study. To meet the load demands, a different types
of renewable energy resources were chosen, which are
available in the study area.
Fig.4.1: System Configuration in HOMER
For the off-grid electrification of Bakpo village, various
combinations were obtained of the hybrid systems with
SPV, Biomass, batteries and converter from the HOMER
Optimization simulation as shown in figure 4.2.
Fig.4.2. Optimization result details
HOMER uses the total NPC as its main selection tool.
All the possible hybrid system configurations for the
village of Bakpo are listed in ascending order of their total
NPC. Technical and economic details of all the
configurations of hybrid systems from the optimization
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process are shown where the best possible combination of
SPV, DG, converter and batteries are able to fully meet the
village load demands at the lowest possible total NPC of
$1,357,033 as shown in figure 4.2. The next most
economical combination is about $23,690,664,followed by
$33,894,256 and so on.
V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Even though the initial investment required is
comparatively high, the LCC analysis shows that for a
remote village like Bakpo with low energy demand, HPS
can be cost-competitive due to high costs for a grid
extension. Electricity from the grid might be cheap, yet the
costs for grid extension and the transmission and
distribution losses associatedwith it sum up to to a high
cost of electricity, especially where the grid has to be
extended over a long distance.Furthermore, once the hybrid
system has been implemented, it has low operation and
maintanance cost. For these reasons, a stand-alone Hybrid
Power System can be the most financially attractive and
reliable solution in the remote village of Bakpo.
There is a considerable market for stand-alone Hybrid
Power System both in remote and highly populated areas.
To meet this markets demands, It is therefore
Recommended that policies have to be implemented to
promote the utilzation of HPS in remote areas. Moreso,
off- grid electricity generation based on HPS plays an
important role in addressing the issue of Nigeria energy
crisis,therefore, local governments authorities in Nigeria
can play important role in promoting HPS. These can be
taken into account in their decision making, planning and
budgetingin relation to remote rural electricity
infrastructure.
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AUTHOR'S PROFILE

Omorogiuwa Eseosa
research interest include power system
optimization using power electronic devices
(Flexible Alternating Current Devices and
Custom Power Devices), power system
optimization, economics, marketing, renewable
energy and application of intelligent techniques to power
systems networks and machines. He hold a Ph.D. in power
systems and electric machines and currently lectures in the
university of port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria.

Okpo Ekom Enefiok

research interest is in power system and electric machines. He
holds a masters degree in power systems and electric machines.
He is currently a lecturer in the Department of
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Akwa Ibom State University,
Mkpat Enin Nigeira.

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