ANALYSIS OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR ENERGY SERVICES IN THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the current electricity demand for energy services in the academic buildings of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo state. The sources of energy mix for electricity generation were assessed, as well as the factors influencing alternative sources of electricity supply. It also assessed the optimal energy mix for electricity generation in the study area with a view of improving the electricity generation. The data for the study was obtained from structured questionnaire randomly administered to 394 electricity users out of a population of 24,918 electricity users (students and lecturers), stocks of end use appliances, activity level in (hrs) and energy intensity in (Kw) all the academic buildings of the study area was recorded (18,434 end use appliances). Model for Analysis of Energy Demand (MAED-II) was adopted to analyze the sources of energy mix for electricity generation and to quantify the electricity demand for energy services. The output of the model then served as input into the hybrid optimization of model electric renewables (HOMER) for optimizing the energy mix for energy generation and Mean Ranking in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was deployed to analyze the factors influencing alternative sources of electricity supply. The result shows that the total energy demand for the academic buildings in FUTA is 25,321kWh per day of which the national grid is the main source of power supply and generator as back up. Of the 25,321kW/h, cooling services (Refrigerator, Fan and Air conditioning) accounted for 45.1% usage followed by computing services which account for 39.9%, among other end use appliances. Among academic buildings, School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology building has the highest amount of energy demand of 3528.36kWh per day with a percentage of 14% followed by School of Sciences (3520.78kWh per day) 14%, then School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (3346.42kWh per day) 13.3%, and School of Environmental Technology (3211.204kWh per day) 12.8%. Among perceived factors that hinder the use of renewable energy in the university system, 7 lack of adequate public education on problems due to energy wastage ranks highest as the major factor hindering the adoption of renewable energy electricity generation to meet the growing demand of electricity in FUTA with a mean ranking of 3.6639, while lack of knowledge about benefits that can be gained from using renewable energy is closely ranked next with a mean ranking of 3.5672. Poor housing development plans ranks third, with mean of 3.4034, having huge resources of non-renewable energy is ranked fourth and cheap prices of crude oil products due to subsidy is ranked least. Hybrid Optimization for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) was used to optimize the energy consumed, the system proposed adding 7,499 kW of PV and 2,503 kWh of battery capacity. Lighting services and entertainment services can be constantly and conveniently taken care of by PV Solar system while other end use appliances that require more energy can be taken care of by Grid. This result shows FUTA depend mainly on Grid and diesel generator as a backup source of electricity. FUTA has not keyed into and adopted renewable energy even with the abundance of sunlight which accounts for the high rate of electricity consumed by ventilation services. Lack The study recommends energy saving appliances and green building