This paper presents technical and economic assessment
of a hybrid energy system for electricity generation
in rural communities in the six geopolitical zones of
Nigeria. The study was based on a 500 rural household
model having an electric load of 493 kWh per day. To simulate
long-term continuous implementation of the hybrid
system, 21 years (1992 – 2012) hourly mean global solar
radiation and wind speed data for the selected sites were
used. The mean annual wind speed and solar radiation for
the locations ranged from 2.31 m/s forWarri to 3.52 m/s for
Maiduguri and 4.53 kWh/m2 for Warri to 5.92 kWh/m2 for
Maiduguri, respectively. These weather data were used for
simulation with the Micro-power OptimizationModel software
HOMER. From the optimum results of the hybrid system,
Warri has the highest NPC and COE of 2,441,222and0.721/kWh, respectively while Maiduguri has the least
NPC and COE of 2,225,387and0.658/kWh, respectively
for the 21 years project lifespan. The high value of COE for
Warri is due to its low renewable energy resourcewhile low
COE for Maiduguri is due to its high renewable energy resource.
The Northern part of the country has ample renewable
energy resource availability and with a strong political
will, optimal utilization of these renewable resources
(solar and wind) can be actualized. Researchers, Industrialists,
Policy Makers and the Nigerian government should therefore seize this opportunity in developing a sustainable
energy through utilization of abundant renewable energy
resources in the country