Abstract:
The research work is aimed at establishing an environmental standard for powering
Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) using different hybrids of renewable energy resources
(RES) with optimal performance in cost consideration, emission, space and reliability.
Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electrical Renewables (HOMER) software has been
used to simulate a set of hybrids with best performance over six states in Southwestern
part of Nigeria. In all the locations considered, a hybrid of Photovoltaic Cell (PV),
Diesel Generator (DG), Battery Storage (BAT) and Converter (CV) has the lowest
Average Levelized Cost (ALC) of ₦50.63/kWh with average Total Net Present Cost
(TNPC) reduction of 57.97% when compared with the existing system of diesel
generator-only. It was also discovered that a hybrid of Wind Turbine (WT), PV, DG,
BAT and CV provides added advantage of BTS site area reduction by about 14.84%.
Higher wind resources in Lagos and Oyo States gives more room for emission
reduction but little reduction in TNPC due to high capital and maintenance costs of
wind turbine. However, higher solar irradiation in Ekiti and Ondo States makes the cost
of hybrids with PV lower as a result of lower capital and maintenance costs of PV.
Also, life cost of Hybrid of RES for powering BTS in the region has greater sensitivity
to change Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI). Life cost falls by 1,830,000 for every
1 kW/m2/day increase in GHI, while diesel price causes an increase of 15,000 in life
cost to every 1 rise in diesel price. Change in wind speed has no low effect on life
cost. Since the existing system do more harm than good, it is reasonable to spur
government agencies into action to get them replaced with hybrids of PV and WT.
