Design, Technical and Economic Optimization of Renewable Energy-Based Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Africa: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract

The transportation sector accounts for more than 70% of Nigeria’s energy consumption. This sector has been the major consumer of fossil fuels in the past 20 years. In this study, the technical and economic feasibility of an electrical vehicle (EV) charging scheme is investigated based on the availability of renewable energy (RE) sources in six sites representing diverse geographic and climatic conditions in Nigeria. The HOMER Pro® microgrid software with the grid-search and proprietary derivative-free optimization techniques is used to assess the viability of the proposed EV charging scheme. The PV/WT/battery charging station with a quantity of two WT, 174 kW of PV panels, a quantity of 380 batteries storage, and a converter of 109 kW located in Sokoto provide the best economic metrics with the lowest NPC, electricity cost, and initial costs of USD547,717, USD0.211/kWh, and USD449,134, respectively. The optimal charging scheme is able to reliably satisfy most of the EV charging demand as it presents a small percentage of the unmet load, which is the lowest when compared with the corresponding values of the other charging stations. Moreover, the optimal charging system in all six locations is able to sufficiently meet the EV charge requirement with maximum uptime. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to check the robustness of the optimum charging scheme. This sensitivity analysis reveals that the technical and economic performance indicators of the optimum charging station are sensitive to the changes in the sensitivity variables. Furthermore, the outcomes ensure that the hybrid system of RE sources and EVs can minimize carbon and other pollutant emissions. The results and findings in this study can be implemented by all relevant parties involved to accelerate the development of EVs not only in Nigeria but also in other parts of the African continent and the rest of the world.

A case study on the potential impact of a private vehicles switch to electric vehicles in Lagos, Nigeria.

“…In Nigeria's power sector, the vast majority of electricity supply relies on fossil fuels, especially natural gas, which accounts for approximately 80% of total fossil fuel energy. In fact, about 80% of the country's energy structure comes from thermal power generation, while the remaining 20% comes from hydropower and other renewable energy sources [8]. The Nigeria electricity generation by technology in the Stated Policies Scenario from 2010 to 2040 is shown in Figure 3.…”

“…As of 2020, Nigeria's transportation industry accounts for more than 70% of the country's energy consumption. Nigeria and other countries are actively taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which cause serious climate and environmental problems [8]. Switching to electric vehicles in Lagos, Nigeria could reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and improve energy security.…”

A Novel Doubly-Green Stand-Alone Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Saudi Arabia: An Overview and a Comprehensive Feasibility Study

“…The optimum system configuration of PV-powered EVCSs is techno-economically assessed under various solar radiation conditions by Minh et al [49], who stated that the optimized system and investment efficiency of the CS in each urban location are significantly influenced by the solar radiation value and the feed-in tariff (FIT) cost of rooftop solar energy. In [50], the techno-economic viability of an EVCS is analyzed using renewable energy resources in six different locations across the geo-political zones in Nigeria. The results of this analysis indicate that the PV/WT/battery charging station located in the Nigerian northwestern city of Sokoto provides the best economic metrics with the minimum net present and energy costs.…”

“…A novel method to investigate the technical and economic viability of retrofitting an existing fuel station with an EVSE infrastructure is proposed in [52], wherein the analysis is given for the potential of incorporating a storage device (battery) with the EVSE, which gives rise to minimizing the grid connectivity costs. Observation of the outcome in [50] shows that a system with 4 EVCSs, 1 storage battery for 8 hr of working and a system with 4 EVCSs, 1 battery system, and 1 PV panel for 8 hr of working are economically feasible (with regard to the net present, IRR and the discounted PP values). The establishment of electric CSs considering the financial viability is studied by Danial and Azis [53].…”

“…To design the optimal HCS system, we utilize a wind conversion energy system (WCES) model 'Bergey Excel 10-R' of 10 kW rated capacity, taken from [50]. The WT employed by this system is of the 3-Blade Upwind Horizontal Axis type.…”