Techno-Economic Assessment of Distributed Generation in Nigeria’s Low Voltage Distribution Network

Abstract

The availability of a good power supply is said to be essential for achieving sustainable development in the majority of developing countries. Huge capital expenditures are necessary to achieve a consistent electricity supply, mostly for grid development. In order to achieve a reliable power supply, this research, titled "Techno-Economic Assessment of Distributed Generation (DG) in Nigeria’s Low-Voltage Distribution Network," aims to integrate a flexible energy mix at the household level. This was achieved by the development of an energy assessment template through computation using ratings of typical electrical devices contained in a three-bedroom flat in Nigeria. The information obtained was aggregated with field data obtained from household energy audit as well as energy band data collected from the power utility company. The optimal energy mix based on formulated algorithm comprised of photovoltaic (PV) system with capacity of 12.7 kW, a petrol generator with capacity of 15 kW, a converter with capacity of 12 kW, and 16 units of batteries (eight connected in series and two connected in parallel) with a nominal optimal hybrid capacity of 15.89 kWh. However, the HOMER Pro software's optimization results revealed that the planned size of PV panels, batteries, and the supply from the public power utility company were adequate for the load. The net present cost, cost of electricity, and operating costs of the proposed hybrid system obtained was $23,714, $0.308 kWh, and $700 per year, respectively. The proposed template is suitable and adaptable to any desired grid size.