Optimal Hybrid PV-Battery-Diese Generator Energy System for the Oil Producing Communities in Niger-Delta, Nigeria: A Case Study

Optimal configuration and design of a hybrid Photovoltaic (PV)-Battery-Diesel-Generator energy system has been proposed to power households in Omavovwe community in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. The configuration of the optimal hybrid system is selected based on the Hybrid Optimisation Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) top-ranked system configuration, according to the net present cost. An optimal system design delivers the best components alongside appropriate operating strategies to provide the most efficient, reliable cost-effective system possible. The system investigated reduces CO2 emissions by 25.72%/year. This will reduce costs imposed on CO2 emissions by future environmental legislation. The system has a better potential for providing the energy needs of the households considered in this article compared to a relatively high PV penetration (about 74%) as capital costs are reduced by 45.6%. It is observed that initiatives by the federal government of Nigeria (FGN) and the oil producing companies for the utilisation of PV energy in the oil producing communities would realize improved hybrid energy system economic indices.