Incorporating Solar and Wind Energy Technologies in the Power Mix of a Proposed Power Structure

In this work, the possibility of utilizing solar energy and wind energy for electricity generation in a proposed new power structure in Nigeria was examined. The wind and solar energy potentials of all the 36 states and the federal capital territory of Nigeria for electricity generation were assessed using data in the open literatures about selected locations in each state, usually, the state capitals. Using the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and the net present value (NPV) methods, the economic viability of the usage of both energy systems (solar photovoltaic (PV) system for solar energy conversion and wind turbines for wind energy conversion) were presented. Project life of 20 years at 9% discount rate together with electricity price of N55 per kWhr ($0.1339 per kW-hr) was used for the analysis. While it is not economically viable to operate wind energy system in several states in the southern part due to low wind speeds, the reverse is the case in few other states such as Anambra and Enugu states. It is economically viable to operate solar PV system on commercial scale in several states in the southern part, but in the northern part, solar PV systems can be operated on commercial scale profitably in all the states, with Yobe state having the lowest LCOE. The LCOE as a function of the wind speed and the solar irradiation were obtained in this work. These relations can aid quick assessment of the economic viability of operating either energy system in any location.