DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

The growing need for sustainable and renewable energy solutions has driven interest in solar power systems as an alternative to conventional electricity sources. This project, titled "Design and Assembly of a 1.5KVA Stand-Alone Solar Power System," aims to equip students with the essential knowledge required to build an efficient solar power system. It focuses on fundamental aspects such as load analysis, proper material sizing, and system integration to ensure optimal performance. The project outlines the step-by-step procedures involved in selecting and assembling key components, including solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, and batteries. A detailed approach to load analysis ensures that energy demands are accurately assessed, allowing for appropriate system design. The study also explores construction techniques, testing procedures, and performance evaluations to verify the system’s efficiency and reliability. By providing hands-on experience and theoretical insights, this project serves as a valuable educational tool for students, fostering a deeper understanding of solar energy applications and promoting sustainable energy solutions.

The persistent unreliability of the national power grid in Nigeria has significantly hindered economic growth and forced residential consumers to rely on expensive, noisy, and polluting diesel generators to meet their daily electricity needs. This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of an islanded hybrid photovoltaic (PV)–wind–battery energy system designed to reliably power a residential building in Benin City, Edo State. Using HOMER Pro simulation software, the research modeled and optimized the system for a 3-bedroom apartment with a daily load demand of 21.73 kWh, utilizing local meteorological data. The optimal system configuration was determined to include a 5 kW solar PV array, three 1 kW wind turbines, a 34.8 kWh battery bank, and a 3.5 kW converter. This configuration achieved a 100% renewable fraction and high reliability, with a Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) of 0.78% and a Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE) of approximately 22 hours per year. Economic analysis revealed a Net Present Cost (NPC) of ₦132,850,500 and a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of ₦1,305/kWh, placing the system within the competitive range of diesel-based alternatives.Furthermore, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis confirmed that the system remained economically viable across all tested scenarios, affirming the suitability of hybrid renewable systems for off-grid residential applications in Nigeria

The growing need for sustainable and renewable energy solutions has driven interest in solar power systems as an alternative to conventional electricity sources. This project, titled "Design and Assembly of a 1.5KVA Stand-Alone Solar Power System," aims to equip students with the essential knowledge required to build an efficient solar power system. It focuses on fundamental aspects such as load analysis, proper material sizing, and system integration to ensure optimal performance. The project outlines the step-by-step procedures involved in selecting and assembling key components, including solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, and batteries. A detailed approach to load analysis ensures that energy demands are accurately assessed, allowing for appropriate system design. The study also explores construction techniques, testing procedures, and performance evaluations to verify the system’s efficiency and reliability. By providing hands-on experience and theoretical insights, this project serves as a valuable educational tool for students, fostering a deeper understanding of solar energy applications and promoting sustainable energy solutions.

The persistent unreliability of the national power grid in Nigeria has significantly hindered economic growth and forced residential consumers to rely on expensive, noisy, and polluting diesel generators to meet their daily electricity needs. This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of an islanded hybrid photovoltaic (PV)–wind–battery energy system designed to reliably power a residential building in Benin City, Edo State. Using HOMER Pro simulation software, the research modeled and optimized the system for a 3-bedroom apartment with a daily load demand of 21.73 kWh, utilizing local meteorological data. The optimal system configuration was determined to include a 5 kW solar PV array, three 1 kW wind turbines, a 34.8 kWh battery bank, and a 3.5 kW converter. This configuration achieved a 100% renewable fraction and high reliability, with a Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) of 0.78% and a Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE) of approximately 22 hours per year. Economic analysis revealed a Net Present Cost (NPC) of ₦132,850,500 and a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of ₦1,305/kWh, placing the system within the competitive range of diesel-based alternatives. Furthermore, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis confirmed that the system remained economically viable across all tested scenarios, affirming the suitability of hybrid renewable systems for off-grid residential applications in Nigeria

This study explores the growing importance of renewable energy as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuels, particularly in addressing the persistent power supply challenges in Nigeria. The increasing demand for electricity, coupled with frequent power outages caused by infrastructural deficiencies and system failures, has significantly affected productivity and essential services such as healthcare and data processing. While fuel generators have been widely adopted as an alternative power source, their negative environmental and health impacts—such as carbon monoxide emissions, noise pollution, and high operational costs—necessitate cleaner solutions.

The study focuses on solar energy as an efficient and environmentally friendly option, emphasizing the role of solar inverters in energy conversion systems. A solar inverter converts direct current (DC) generated from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels into alternating current (AC) suitable for household and commercial use. The system leverages advanced semiconductor devices, including MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, unipolar transistors, and thyristors, to ensure efficient power conversion with minimal noise, low maintenance requirements, and zero harmful emissions.