Assessing the viability of solar-biogas hybrid systems for energy provision in rural Kenyan communities

Abstract

This study evaluated the viability of a hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)-biogas system with the goal of resolving the ongoing lack of energy access in rural communities with a focus on Kenya’s Kesses region, Uasin Gishu county. The study aims to assess energy demand, economic and environmental impacts, evaluate resource potential, model a hybrid system and gather data from 100 households. An estimated 780 kg of firewood per day is needed, with maize residues and cattle manure having biogas potentials of 88.08 and 309.7 m³/day, respectively against minimum requirement of 141.8 m³/day. The electrical demand is 114.75 kWh/day. The best setup which makes use of HOMER, includes an 18.20 kW converter, a 25.50 kW PV module, a 143-kWh battery capacity, and a 3-kW biogas generator. The Net Present Cost (NPC) and levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) come to USD 183,558 and 0.171$/kWh, respectively. Additionally, findings showed that switching to biogas for cooking reduce CO₂ emissions by 60,193.39 kg annually. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the costs of biogas generators have no effect on NPC and LCOE, while a greater inflation rate shows a double effect. PV-Biogas hybrid systems present a viable way to electrify rural areas and household’s livelihood improvement.