Techno-Economic Analysis Of Hybrid Energy System For Hospitals (A Case Study Of Wenchi Methodist Hospital)

Abstract

The techno-economic feasibility study presented in this thesis assessed the potential of a hybrid energy system to provide sustainable and reliable electricity to the Wenchi Methodist Hospital in Ghana, while reducing its dependence on the national grid. The HOMER Pro simulation tool was employed to design and simulate different hybrid energy system configurations, taking into account the energy demand of the hospital, the solar irradiation data, and the cost of components. The financial analysis was conducted to evaluate the economic viability of the proposed hybrid energy system. The simulation results showed that a hybrid energy system consisting of 115 kW photovoltaic system connected to a 500 kW grid line, a 37.5 kW converter, and a 70 kW generator could provide reliable and sustainable electricity to Wenchi Methodist hospital, with a renewable fraction of 96.7% and a capacity shortage of 0%. The system also had the potential to sell excess electricity to the national grid, resulting in significant financial and environmental benefits. The Net present cost (NPC) for the hybrid energy system was estimated to be US$ 156,358 with an estimated Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.10$/kWh and O&M cost of US$ 10.44 per year Overall, the results of this study demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of a hybrid energy system for the Wenchi Methodist Hospital in Ghana. The proposed system had the potential to improve the hospital's access to reliable and sustainable electricity, reduce its operating costs, and contribute to the country's efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy