Techno-Economic Analysis of a Hybrid Campus Microgrid

Aims: To design and develop a campus micro-grid model for Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), main campus, Nigeria.

Study Design: Econometric and financial feasibility analysis.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, main campus, Nigeria, between October 2019 and September 2020.

Methodology: Assessment of the campus load profile, energy consumption history, grid availability and present constraints to the existing system was carried out using the Fluke Power Analyzer and Fluke Industrial Multimeter. The parameters were used as the defining inputs to HOMER Pro micro-grid design and optimization software to calculate the net present cost, levelized cost of energy, total annual cost, capital recovery factor, and the real discount rate for NSUK, main campus, Nigeria.

Results: For a total daily demand of 11,162.13kWh, the optimization results indicated a net present cost of $2,499,296.31, cost of energy $0.05, total annual electrical energy output 15,619,101.08kWh, and renewable penetration 293%, as compared to net present cost of $9,680,196.57, cost of energy $0.096, total annual electrical energy output 369,729.73kWh, and a renewable penetration 0.0% for the existing NSUK grid-only dependent system.

Conclusion: Optimization results were considerably better than those obtained for the NSUK existing grid-only dependent system. Therefore, the micro-grid technology is a sustainable solution to the increasing energy demand for Nasarawa State University.