Simulation and Optimization of Hybrid Diesel Power Generation System for GSM Base Station Site in Nigeria

The telecommunications industry requires efficient, reliable and cost-effective hybrid systems as alternatives to the power supplied by diesel generators. This investigation proposes a solar - photovoltaic (PV)/diesel hybrid power generation system suitable for Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) base station site. The study is based on simulation and optimization of a hybrid system for a GSM base station site located in Abuja (FCT), Nigeria with a daily load of 318 kWh d-1. Solar radiation for the design of the system was obtained from NASA surface Meteorology and solar energy website at a location of 9° 00’ N latitude and 7° 00’ E longitude, with annual average solar radiation of 5.45 kWh m-2d-1. Hybrid Optimization Model for Electrical Renewables (HOMER) software was used for the design of the proposed power system. The study evaluates savings associated with conversion of the diesel powered system to a PV/diesel hybrid power system. From the simulation results, the proposed system has total Net Present Cost (NPC) and amount of CO2 as ($995,774; 65.270 tonnes), and saves ($716,397; 57.835 tonnes) when compared with the diesel only system ($1,712,171; 123.105 tonnes). A control system for the hybrid PV-diesel energy system with battery storage was developed to coordinate when power should be generated by PV panels and when it should be generated by diesel generator. This hybrid system could be applied in any other electrical system