A hybrid solar–biogas system for post-COVID-19 rural energy access

Abstract

Solar home systems for rural electrification are often designed with a limited energy supply, which presents a drawback for the technology. Furthermore, uncontrolled livestock faeces in rural communities constitute environmental sanitation and health risks. Livestock excrement can be used through a biogas digester to supplement solar energy to provide adequate and sustainable electricity access to underserved rural communities while achieving waste management. Therefore, this study presents a hybrid solar–biogas system for a more dynamic energy supply and waste management for post-Covid recovery plans in rural communities. A parametric research approach that involves the use of the Integrated Environment Solution Virtual Environment software application and mathematical models to design the desired household load and the hybrid system sizing is used in the study. The findings show that the daily household energy consumption was 6.6 kWh, equivalent to 206.40 kWh/month. A 1.2-kWp and 1.2-m3 hybrid solar–biogas system was found to adequately power the house. Financially, the total initial investment cost of the system was $5777.20 with a net present value of $6566.78, net profit of $4443.6, a payback period of 14 years and 8 months, and a levelized cost of energy of $0.21/kWh; these include a 60% initial investment and maintenance costs subsidy. Energy performance contracting and energy-as-a-service were recommended to effectively run and operate the system. The study successfully revealed the design, specifications and upscaling mechanism of the proposed hybrid solar–biogas system. More research is required to unveil the efficacy of the system, the performance gap and the perception of the technology by the beneficiaries.