Simulating hybrid power plants in strategic industrial areas in Nigeria: Solar PV-diesel hybrid for Kano free trade zone

Abstract

The review the power situation of one of Kano Free Trade Zone, one of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s own Export Processing Zones and simulated a hybrid power plant for the Zone and nearby community. It is found that, the power requirements of the Zone are current provided for through an unreliable Grid and 1MW diesel generator, which is quite expensive and unsatisfactory for a manufacturing site. The paper gathered solar resources information of the site using Global Solar Atlas and use the HOMER Grid optimization feature to simulate the most appropriate capacity to provide the recorded load of the Zone. The simulation proposed four viable systems out of which two are considered and recommended for implementation at the Zone as they provide the opportunity for the Zone to provide itself with renewable power using Grid Tied Solar-PV/Diesel hybrid and even sell more power to the grid, nearby community and installations.