Files and links (1)
Open Access CC BY-NC-ND V4.0
Journal article
Enhancing the long-term reliability of an existing hybrid renewable energy mini grid in an island community in Ghana: a techno-economic analysis
Energy conversion and management. X, Vol.30, 101890
2026
Abstract
Numerous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have initiated rural electrification programs aimed at providing electricity access to residents in remote communities using hybrid renewable energy sources (HRES). However, these projects often fail to deliver reliable power to users due to various technical and economic challenges. The authors investigated the ability of an existing system in an island community in Ghana to meet the community’s current energy demand and explored strategies to enhance its long-term reliability. This objective was achieved by performing a techno-economic analysis of four scenarios: the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario as the baseline, an optimized version, the adoption of energy-efficient appliances, and the extension of energy for productive use. Annual system cost (ASC), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and the internal rate of return (IRR) were employed to compare the scenarios after modelling and simulating with Xendee. The findings indicates that the current end-user tariff imposed by the utility is inadequate to generate sufficient revenue for a reliable electricity supply in the baseline scenario, primarily due to the high ASC resulting from extensive generator runtime. The study further reveals that ASC and LCOE are improved when wind technology is excluded from the system configuration and energy-efficient appliances are utilized. The authors recommend that the government of Ghana implement a specialized tariff scheme for decentralized HRES, distinct from the uniform national tariff. Additionally, we recommend the use of forecasting techniques to determine demand growth and employ smart meters to monitor customer load profiles.
Details
- Title
- Enhancing the long-term reliability of an existing hybrid renewable energy mini grid in an island community in Ghana: a techno-economic analysis
- Authors/Creators
- Kofi Nyarko - Koforidua Technical UniversityJonathan Whale - Murdoch University, Centre for Water, Energy and WasteTania Urmee - Murdoch University, School of Engineering and Energy
- Publication Details
- Energy conversion and management. X, Vol.30, 101890
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.; AMSTERDAM
- Number of pages
- 14
- Identifiers
- 991005882553007891
- Copyright
- © 2026 Elsevier Ltd.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Energy; Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
1 Record Views