Development and Performance Analysis of Standalone Photovoltaic System in Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu

Persistent grid instability and high diesel costs constrain academic productivity in sub-Saharan African tertiary institutions. This study develops the design of a 100 kVA solar PV-battery system for diesel displacement at Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, Nigeria, and analyzes its simulated performance and economics. A load audit across ten centers defines two regimes sized for 8-hour autonomy with a 120 kWp array: Scenario A (40 kW, 374.96 kWh/day, 421.05 kWh battery) and Scenario B (90 kW, 664.76 kWh/day, 947.37 kWh battery). The array yields 183,960 kWh/year (capacity utilization factor 17.50%) and covers Scenario A with an average margin of 18% in Year 1, falling to 4% by Year 25, but leaves 26–33% of Scenario B's demand unmet. Initial CAPEX is ₦232.98 million (A) and ₦432.86 million (B). Against the logbook diesel baseline, simple payback is 18.8 and 46.1 years, LCOE is ₦266.5 and ₦436.2/kWh, and 25-year NPV is −₦104.4 million and −₦353.5 million. Against diesel generating the same energy (about ₦435/kWh), Scenario A pays back in 4.2 years. Economic viability therefore depends on how much diesel the system displaces.