Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Solar PV-Based Microgrid for Residential Electrification in Gwange I, Maiduguri Using HOMER Pro

• Muhammad M. HAMIDU

  Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

  Author

• Mathew KATAMBI

  Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

  Author

• Omar FARUQ

  Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

  Author

The Nigerian power sector continues to struggle with outdated infrastructure, security related disruption, climate change disruptions, and unstable grid supply. In densely populated areas like Gwange I Ward, Maiduguri, centralized electricity systems remain inadequate, forcing residents to depend on costly diesel and petrol generators. This study aims to address this issue by optimizing a solar photovoltaic (PV)–battery energy storage system (BESS) microgrid. The system for Gwange I was designed and optimized using HOMER Pro v3.14, integrating load estimation, solar resource analysis, component sizing, technical performance and economic analysis into the methodological framework. Simulation results indicate that the proposed configuration comprising a 1,085 kW PV array and 1,172 kWh of usable battery storage achieves renewable penetration above 660% and delivers an annual generation of approximately 1.95 GWh. The system's competitiveness against diesel alternatives is confirmed by economic analysis, with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of ₦28.68/kWh and a payback period of 2.3 years. The study also highlights the importance of thermal effects on system performance, revealing a 2.7% drop in annual PV output due to temperature increase. Environmentally, noise and air pollution are reduced, and annual CO₂ emissions are reduced by over 1,300 metric tonnes. The study confirms that decentralized solar microgrids with resilience-focused design offer a sustainable, reliable route to urban electrification in weak and climate-sensitive contexts, thus directing policy for microgrid deployment and integration of thermal management.

• FJET_12_56_49

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