Technical and Economic Analysis of Hybrid Solar PV-Wind Mini-grid Power System for Sokoto Energy Research Center (SERC)

Abstract

Access to reliable electricity plays a critical role in driving the global economy by powering industries, enabling technological advancements, and supporting infrastructure. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of a hybrid solar–wind mini-grid system designed for the Sokoto Energy Research Centre (SERC) in northwestern Nigeria. The region’s high solar irradiance and moderate wind speeds provide favourable conditions for renewable energy integration. Twenty-two years long-term meteorological data from National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), and HOMER Pro software for simulation was utilized. The result showed the site-specific assessment has an average solar radiation of 5.99 kWh/m²/day, an annual mean wind speed of 5.17 m/s, and an average temperature of 27.71 °C, confirming the location’s strong renewable energy potential. The system was modelled, optimized, and evaluated to meet an estimated daily demand of 109.33kWh and a peak load of 19.71kW. The optimal configuration comprises a 99.6 kW photovoltaic array, a 25kW wind turbine, 83 batteries, and 21.5kW of inverter size, achieving a 100% renewable fraction. The technical and economic analysis showed annual electricity production of 210,796kWh, with solar PV contributing 85% and wind 15%, with a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of ₦125.48/kWh and a Net Present Cost (NPC) of ₦64.9 million. While producing excess electricity of 168,061 kWh annually, the system also demonstrated minimal unmet load 38.4 kWh/yr, confirming its reliability. The findings underscore the technical and economic feasibility of the hybrid system for institutional electrification in Nigeria, with potential scalability to other off-grid applications.