Performance optimisation of hybrid renewable systems for remote off-grid electrification

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorKalyankolo, Umaru
dc.contributor.authorKaaya, Salim
dc.contributor.authorAsikuru, Salaama
dc.contributor.authorOchima, Noah
dc.contributor.authorMutaburura, Pison
dc.contributor.authorNansukusa, Yudaya
dc.contributor.authorNafuna, Ritah
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-27T08:52:25Z
dc.date.available2026-05-27T08:52:25Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-19
dc.descriptionThis study supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by optimizing a solar-wind hybrid system with a generator for off-grid electrification in rural Arua. It also advances SDG 13 (Climate Action) by increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing CO₂ emissions. Aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, which prioritizes sustainable energy access and rural transformation, this research provides a cost-effective, reliable model for electrifying 100 households and 10 medical centers. By lowering unmet energy demand and levelized energy costs, the study offers a replicable solution to address Uganda’s rural energy deficit and improve healthcare services.
dc.description.abstractThis research focuses on modelling, simulation and optimization of a HRES for off grid electrification in remote areas of Uganda using solar and wind as the renewable sources, targeting a community of 100 households and 10 medical centers in Rigbo Sub-County, Arua District. Using HOMER Pro software, five configurations were evaluated: solar only, solar and wind, solar with generator, wind with generator, and a combination of solar and wind with generator. Costs, electrical performance and environmental impact of the configurations were compared. Load profiles were developed by estimating a daily consumption of households and medical centers, scaled to total annual load of 189,500-189,581kWh. Results indicate that hybrid systems incorporating a generator, particularly the configuration of solar, wind and generator, outperforms others with the lowest total NPC and the lowest LCOE and no unmet load, while maintaining high renewable fraction and manageable CO2 emission. Future studies should focus on validating these simulation results with empirical data from actual pilot deployments in remote Ugandan villages to account for real-world weather unpredictability. Investigating more dynamic and diverse energy demand models would also provide a deeper understanding of consumption patterns beyond uniform assumptions. Exploring the integration of advanced energy storage technologies and smart grid management could offer ways to further reduce reliance on diesel generators while maintaining system reliability.
dc.identifier.citationKalyankolo, U., Kaaya, S., Asikuru, S., Ochima, N., Mutaburura, P., Nansukusa, Y., & Nafuna, R. (2026). Performance optimisation of hybrid renewable systems for remote off-grid electrification. International Journal of Recent Technology and Applied Science (IJORTAS), 8(1), 25-41.
dc.identifier.issn2721-7280
dc.identifier.urihttps://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/986
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherLamintang Education and Training Centre
dc.subjectHOMER Pro
dc.subjectHRES
dc.subjectOff-Grid Electrification
dc.subjectRural Uganda
dc.subjectSolar-Wind Hybrid.
dc.titlePerformance optimisation of hybrid renewable systems for remote off-grid electrification
dc.typeArticle

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Kalyankolo_2026_Article_19032026.pdf
Size:
1.67 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
4.17 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Research Articles