Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Solar Biomass Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Sustainable Electrification in Omoku, Nigeria

Reliable and affordable electricity remains a major development requirement in many communities in Nigeria, where dependence on diesel generation increases operating costs and local air pollution. This study evaluates the technical, economic, environmental and potential socio-economic performance of a solar photovoltaic (PV)–biomass hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) designed for Omoku Town, Rivers State. The work adapts resource estimates and simulation results reported in the source dissertation, using HOMER Pro as the principal system configuration and techno-economic assessment tool and MATLAB as a supporting modelling and analysis environment. The dissertation reports average global horizontal irradiance of 4.77 kWh/m²/day and an estimated annual biomass residue resource of 27,500 tonnes, including cassava peels, palm-kernel shells, sawdust and other agricultural residues. The selected configuration comprises 40 MW of solar PV, a 25 MW biomass plant, 100 MWh of battery storage and 10 MW of grid backup. Reported annual generation is 157,760 MWh, with solar PV contributing 63,600 MWh (40.1%), biomass 74,460 MWh (47.2%) and grid supply 19,700 MWh (12.7%), producing a renewable fraction of 87.3%. The study reports a net present cost (NPC) of ₦780 million and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of ₦92.5/kWh for the hybrid option, compared with ₦1.22 billion and ₦165/kWh for a diesel-only comparator. Estimated annual emissions reductions relative to diesel are 80.3% for CO₂, 82.1% for CH₄, 86.7% for SOₓ, 79.2% for NO and 81.3% for PM₂.₅. Potential social benefits reported include a reduction in household electricity cost, increased employment and wider electricity access. The findings suggest that a solar biomass configuration may provide a promising pathway for cleaner and more resilient electricity supply in Omoku. However, inconsistencies in some reported resource and cost figures, together with the simulation-based nature of the assessment, mean that the results should be independently reconciled and validated before investment decisions.