Development of a Low Cost and Highly Efficient Hybrid Energy System for Rural Electrification

High cost of maintenance of electrical grid-extension and noise pollution and CO2 emission of Diesel Generator (DG) which are considered as the favorite energy sources for rural electrification necessitate the combination of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) as a viable solution. This paper determines the suitable blend of RES for electrification of Lemafu village in a bid to assess a low-cost investment of RES in Nigeria. The hybrid energy is achieved by mathematically modeling each component of the hybrid energy based on estimated load profile of the village. Then, BAT algorithm was employed as optimization technique to carried out optimal sizing and check the cost efficiency of the hybrid RES. Simulation was done using MATLAB R(2021a). The results showed that the hybrid RES with BAT algorithm for the village provide an appreciable reduction on the Cost of Energy (COE) production and CO2 emission with low cost of maintenance. This study would help power system operators in providing a good alternative to energy accessibility.