EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIALS OF LARGE SCALE PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN NIGERIA, A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC ON MICROBIOLOGY
ABSTRACT
The potentials of large scale solar photovoltaic power generation in Sokoto State, North -Western Nigeria and Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria were evaluated through the application of solar PV Sys computer software. Daily average solar radiation in both locations and average relative humidity from 2001 to 2010 was obtained from Nigerian Metrological Weather Forecast Centre, Abuja. The data together with recorded Minimum/Maximum Temperatures were applied as simulation input parameters to activate the computer program. Results obtained were used to estimate the total energy production capacity of a 200kW and 500kW photovoltaic power plant in Sokoto, as compared to the same capacity of power plant located in Port Harcourt. It was observe that, the total energy production capacity of a 200kW PV power plant in Sokoto state is 532MWhr/yr, while the same power plant in Port Harcourt could only produce 223MWhr/yr. The economic analysis also indicate that the cost of 200kW PV power plant in Rivers state is higher than the same power plant located in Sokoto state, North Western Nigeria. Furthermore, economic analysis of large scale solar photovoltaic power generation was made and a model of 4 x 250kW mini grid systems was developed.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Introduction
Nigeria has an installed generation capacity of 8,644MW of electricity (Energy Commission of Nigeria, 2003). But the increase in population as a result of urbanization has results in to severe shortage of electricity. According to an estimate, 70% of Nigerian population does not have access to electricity. The degree of development and civilization of a country is measured by the amount of utilization of energy by human beings. At present only 10% of rural households has access to electricity, (Sambo 2007).
Nigeria is endowed with vast oil and gas reserves and also an abundance of renewable energy potentials. Yet the country is suffering from an energy crisis, which has a major impact on its ability to reduce poverty and achieve the millennium development goals. Solar energy is the most promising of the renewable energy sources in view of its apparent unlimited potentials. (Energy Commission of Nigeria, 2003)
