Photovoltaic-Battery Energy System Versus Fuel Generator in Grid Connected Residential Power Supply

The electric power availability and reliability in Nigeria is in a very poor state as most homes in urban centres connected to grid are for many hours without electricity supply each day, and often with zero supply for consecutive days. This calls for radical and serious effort by all stakeholders to address this challenge as regular power supply is indispensable to all forms of national development and quality of human living. The common use of fossil fuel-powered generators to augment the grid is not a sustainable solution among many other serious disadvantages. Photovoltaic (PV) has a key role to play in short, medium and long term in solving persistent grid power unavailability not just for rural electrification but particularly for residential power supply in urban areas. This paper shows the superior advantages of PV over fuel powered generator. The paper examines some success story of residential photovoltaic systems in some developing countries. This work identifies some of the reasons why the technology seems not to be working in Nigeria despite the high irradiation naturally available in the country. Finally, the paper suggests points of actions that can be taken by individual and government at all levels to promote mass deployment of photovoltaic technology. If these recommendations are implemented, it is hoped that power supply will drastically improve within a short term. Keyword: Home PV system, Off-grid PV system, photovoltaic, renewable energy, rural electrification DOI: 10.7176/JETP/13-3-05 Publication date:September 30th 202