Solar Power System Source Versus Generator/PHCN Energy Supply Source for a 152-Unit Housing Estate in Warri, Nigeria

Abstract

This work focused on investigation of the efficacy of solar system source in comparison to the generator/PHCN source commonly employed in Nigeria. The investigation involved a 152-unit housing estate in Warri, Delta state. The electrical load estimate for the estate was made, used to size and cost system components and then cost the solar system. The load estimate was also used to size and cost the generator for the Generator/PHCN option. The load estimate was further used to determine the cost of using power supplied from PHCN to the estate. It was assumed that the power supply to the estate from PHCN was an average of 14 Hours a day while the remaining 10 hours had power supplied from the generator. The cost analysis for the two alternatives showed that the solar system required at least N 2,343,714,496:00 to supply power to the estate for a 25 year period while the generator/PHCN alternative required N 2,954,940,424.00. Thus, for long term power solutions in Nigeria where the generator/PHCN is almost always employed to solve power supply challenges, the solar power system option should be considered.

Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics, Volume 19 (November, 2011), pp 423 – 432