Technical Evaluation of Power Generation Mix for Rural Electrification: A Case Study of IMINI Village, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the power generation mix for rural electrification in Imini Village, Oyo State, Nigeria, by analyzing eleven combinations of different Sustainable Stand-Alone Power Generation Alternatives (SSPGA). The alternatives comprised Wind Turbine (WT), Solar Power System (SPS), Diesel Generator (DG), and Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), with the aim of determining the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly configuration. An energy audit and household energy profile were developed based on data collected from residents through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews with artisans, and key informant interviews with community leaders. Simulation and sensitivity analyses of 11 scenarios were carried out using Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) and Net Present Cost (NPC) as key indicators of economic viability. The DG system was applied as the base case for comparison. The results revealed that the optimal hybrid configuration—WT + SPS + PEMFC—achieved an LCOE as low as $0.538/kWh and an NPC of $420,349.70, which was significantly lower than the costs associated with DG-only systems ($0.816/kWh, $637,366.80). It was further indicated that the average daily demand of 197.7 kWh and an annual AC primary load of 72,161 kWh were sufficiently met by the hybrid configuration, with CO₂ emissions reduced to zero in the optimal scenarios. The paper concludes that hybrid architecture based on WT, SPS, and PEMFC not only provides a cheaper per-unit cost of electricity but also ensures environmental sustainability compared to the DG-only system. This makes it a technically feasible and policy-relevant pathway for rural electrification in Nigeria.