article · e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering Electronics and Energy
Reliable electricity remains a major obstacle for rural farming communities in Nigeria, where research on energy access has historically prioritised domestic community loads over agricultural needs. Hybrid renewable energy systems offer an effective solution to power rural agricultural operations sustainably. A modeled case study of a typical Nigerian farm facility shows that a hybrid system relying predominantly on solar photovoltaics, alongside minor contributions from biogas and wind turbines, delivers cost-effective power. The evaluated configuration requires an investment of 1,782,602 dollars across 25 years, achieving a discounted payback period of 7.22 years while producing minimal annual carbon dioxide emissions. Surplus electricity generated by the system presents additional revenue opportunities. Widespread implementation still faces hurdles, including poor local infrastructure, unreliable data, and shifting regulatory policies.
Rural agriculture in developing nations frequently suffers from inadequate and unstable electrical grids, which depresses productivity. Demonstrating that clean hybrid energy configurations can repay their capital costs within several years while nearly eliminating carbon emissions provides a clear pathway to strengthen rural food production, boost farm incomes, and support sustainable economic development.
The findings outline an applied system design suitable for agricultural enterprises, commercial farm operators, and rural mini-grid developers in Nigeria. The research models a specific farm facility with defined capital costs and payback periods, positioning the concept at an applied feasibility stage. Wider commercial rollout will require overcoming practical barriers noted in the analysis, specifically underdeveloped infrastructure, unreliable data, and inconsistent local energy policies.
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This research explores the viability and importance of implementing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) in Nigeria's agriculture sector. Despite progress, most rural regions still struggle with unreliable electricity. HRES provides a way to power agricultural endeavors while promoting sustainability, economic viability, and ecological conservation. A case study involving renewable energy applications for powering a typical Nigerian farm facility is also presented. Based on the review's findings, while 53.1% of the journals analyzed were primarily concerned with community load, the agricultural sector received much less coverage, especially in rural areas. For the case study, solar PV dominates the HRES (98.3%) electricity production, with biogas and wind turbines contributing the rest. The project costs $1,782,602 over 25 years, with competitive energy costs and a discounted payback time of 7.22 years. Environmentally, carbon dioxide emissions are negligible (16 kg/yr), and excess electricity production offers income potential for the farm facility. Overall, HRES is presented as an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective way to change rural farm operations, emphasizing the critical need to integrate energy and agriculture. Still, challenges such as inaccurate data, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent policy dynamics remain. In addition, the work highlights an area where more study is needed, namely the use of MCDM analysis for selecting the optimal energy system based on multiple criteria. Utilizing HRES in agriculture is consistent with the SDGs and will increase agricultural productivity, self-sufficiency, and environmental friendliness in Nigeria.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.prime.2024.100492
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