Posted: January 24th, 2024
Integration of a hybrid microgrid system using renewable energy sources
Integration of a hybrid microgrid system using renewable energy sources: a case study of Lagos Port Nigeria
Lagos Port is one of the busiest ports in Africa, handling about 80% of Nigeria’s imports and exports. The port operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and requires a reliable and adequate power supply to support its activities. However, the port faces frequent power outages and interruptions from the national grid, which affects its efficiency and productivity. Moreover, the port relies heavily on diesel generators to supplement its power needs, which increases its operational costs and environmental impacts.
To address these challenges, this paper proposes a hybrid microgrid system that integrates renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, with battery storage and diesel generators. The hybrid microgrid system aims to reduce the port’s dependence on the national grid and diesel generators, while increasing its energy security and sustainability. The paper presents a case study of Lagos Port’s Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, where a Nigerian marine and logistics company has completed the first phase of its shift to renewable energy sources through the installation of solar power infrastructure (Kemp, 2023). The paper analyses the technical and economic feasibility of the hybrid microgrid system for the free zone, using load demand data and renewable resource data from the site. The paper also evaluates the environmental benefits of the hybrid microgrid system in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and air quality improvement.
The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 provides an overview of the current power situation in Nigeria and Lagos Port; Section 3 describes the proposed hybrid microgrid system and its components; Section 4 presents the methodology and data used for the case study analysis; Section 5 discusses the results and findings of the analysis; Section 6 concludes the paper and provides recommendations for future research.
References:
Kemp, Y. (2023). Nigerian company turn to solar to power free zone at Lagos port. ESI Africa. Retrieved from https://www.esi-africa.com/energy-efficiency/nigerian-marine-company-turns-to-solar-to-power-free-zone-at-lagos-port/
IRENA (2023). Renewable Energy Roadmap: Nigeria. International Renewable Energy Agency. Retrieved from https://www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jan/Renewable-Energy-Roadmap-Nigeria
Olówósejéjé, S.A. (2020). What Nigeria’s poor power supply really costs and how a hybrid system could work for business. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/what-nigerias-poor-power-supply-really-costs-and-how-a-hybrid-system-could-work-for-business-144609