DEVELOPMENT OF MINIATURE HYBRID SOLAR AND BIOMASS SYSTEM FOR AJAYI CROWTHER UNIVERSITY POWER SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY

Ajayi Crowther University is faced with irregular and inadequate power supply from the single and centralized utility supply (Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company). This has made it difficult to achieve certain day-to-day activities such as water pumping, sewage disposal, conducive living, and study environment. The increasing demand for reliable and sustainable energy solutions to tackle environmental concerns and persistent energy poverty has led to the exploration of hybrid energy systems. This study focuses on the development and assessment of a miniature hybrid solar-biomass system tailored to meet part of the energy needs of the university, particularly within the Faculty of Engineering Complex. The integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with biomass-based biogas generation offers a promising approach to provide sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective energy solutions for institutional power requirements. A prototype system was designed, constructed, and tested, integrating a 100W monocrystalline solar panel, charge controller, automotive battery storage, custom-built inverter, and a small-scale anaerobic digester for biogas generation using cow dung as feedstock. The solar system provided DC electricity converted to AC by the inverter for typical low-power loads, while the biogas served as an auxiliary energy source. The results of the study revealed that although the solar system demonstrated high reliability under optimal weather conditions, its performance dropped significantly on cloudy or rainy days, highlighting the importance of hybridization. The biomass component produced an average of 0.28 m³ of biogas per day, providing a sustainable supplementary energy source. Economic analysis indicated that while initial investment costs were high, the long-term benefits in reducing reliance on the grid and minimizing operational costs justified the approach. This project lays a solid foundation for future integration of renewable energy systems into Ajayi Crowther University’s power infrastructure, providing a viable pathway toward improved energy security, environmental sustainability, and energy independence for educational institutions.