Simulation and Optimization of Photovoltaic/Diesel Hybrid System for Off-Grid Banking Industry

Power supply is one of the major problems of the banking industry of many emerging economies, such as Nigeria, particularly as the banks strive to modernize and offer quality services, such as electronic banking. This paper proposed a PV/Diesel hybrid power generation system suitable for banking. The study is based on simulation and optimization of hybrid system of a bank located in two different locations [Nsukka (Enugu State - which covers the southern part of the nation) and Kaura (Kaduna State - covering the northern part of the nation)]. The Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) software was used for the design of the proposed stand-alone PV/Diesel power system. A control system for the Hybrid PV-Diesel Energy System with Battery Storage was developed to coordinate when power should be generated by PV panels and when it should be generated by diesel generator. From the simulation results, 46% decrease in each pollutant is noticed in Nsukka for a 46% renewable penetration into the existing diesel only power system; while in Kaura, 55% decrease in each pollutant is noticed for a 55% renewable penetration into the existing diesel only power system. This shows that the more % of renewable penetration into the diesel only system, the more decrease in pollutant emission. The results also show that the two locations (Nsukka and Kaura) have the same excess electricity of 45kWh/yr showing that the system is optimally sized. This excess electricity of power supply is guaranteed in the location simulated in order to give room for future Bank expansion. This may also be applied to other regions of the country.