Title: Techno-economic analysis of stand-alone hybrid energy system for Nigerian telecom industry

Authors: A.S.O. Ogunjuyigbe; T.R. Ayodele

Addresses: Power, Energy, Machine and Drive (PEMD) Research Group, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria ' Power, Energy, Machine and Drive (PEMD) Research Group, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract: This study presents the techno-economic analysis of stand-alone hybrid energy system for the base transceiver station of a telecom company in Nigeria. The GSM operator provides 2G, 3G and 3.75G telecommunication services to customers located within and away from urban centres. The hybrid energy system is simulated with respect to the total net present cost (NPC) for a chosen project lifecycle of 25 years using Homer simulation tool. The simulation results demonstrate that PV/Diesel/Battery offers the best cost-benefit characteristic out of the five economically feasible configurations of hybrid energy systems. This system consists of 50 kW PV, 10 kW diesel generator, 300 numbers of Trojan LI6P and 10kW converter. The option represents renewable energy fraction of 96% with NPC of $401,000 and cost of energy of 1.28$/kWh. The result also shows saving of 60,595 kg/yr of carbon dioxide and 149.77 kg/yr of carbon monoxide compared to non-renewable generation option (diesel generator only).

Keywords: economic analysis; standalone energy systems; hybrid energy systems; Nigeria; telecommunications industry; telecoms; technical analysis; net present cost; NPC; simulation; PV power; diesel power; battery power; photovoltaics; solar energy; solar power; renewable energy; carbon dioxide; CO2; carbon monoxide; carbon emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2016.076089

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2016 Vol.7 No.2, pp.148 - 162

Received: 25 Dec 2014
Accepted: 21 Jun 2015
Published online: 23 Apr 2016 *

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