This paper presents a feasibility analysis of the technical, environmental, and economic sustainability of an existing mini-grid technology system in Nigeria. The study investigates the cost and other operational parameters of the Gbamu-Gbamu solar–battery–diesel hybrid mini-grid, specifically the 85 kWp solar PV installation in the Ijebu East Local Government area of Ogun state. Situated within the Owo forest in South-West Nigeria, the mini-grid aims to reduce the effects of global warming and promote sustainable technological development in rural communities by increasing energy access through renewable sources. To assess the system’s viability, this research utilized RETScreen Expert software to validate the techno-economic and environmental sustainability of the installed mini-grid solar–PV–battery–diesel system in the region. Climatic data for the study were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The results demonstrate that the system is economically feasible and environmentally viable, as indicated by the positive net present value (NPV) and an average monthly irradiance of 4.78 kW/h/m². Furthermore, the system achieved a 92.9% reduction in GHG emissions, provided a reasonable payback period of four years, and enabled a yearly electricity export of 203 MWh. These findings highlight the system’s potential to enhance energy access and mitigate climate change.

This paper presents the technical and economic analysis of a solar–wind electricity generation system to meet the power requirements of a rural community (Okorobo-Ile Town in Rivers State, Nigeria) using the Renewable—energy and Energy—efficiency Technology Screening (RETScreen) software. The entire load estimation of the region was classified into high class, middle class, and lower class. Two annual electricity export rates were considered: 0.1 USD/KWh and 0.2 USD/KWh. The results from the proposed energy model comprising a 600 kW PV system and a 50 kW wind system showed that with a USD 870,000 initial cost and USD 9600 O&M cost, the annual value of the electricity generated was 902 MWh. The simple payback was 5.1 years with a net present value of USD 3,409,532 when 0.2 USD/KWh was used as the annual export rate instead of 10.8 years for simple payback and an NPV of USD 1,173,766 when 0.1 USD/KWh was used. Thus, there is a potential to install a wind–solar system with average weather conditions of 4.27 kWh/m²/d for the solar irradiance and 3.2 m/s for the wind speed at a 10 m hub height using a rate of 0.2 USD/KWh as the electricity export rate.

Solar energy is one of the most promising forms of alternative energy because it has no adverse effects on the environment and is entirely free. Converting solar energy into thermal energy is the most common and straightforward method; the efficiency of solar thermal conversion is approximately 70 percent. The intermittent nature of solar energy availability affects the performance of solar water heaters (SWH), which lowers the usefulness of solar energy in residential and commercial settings, particularly for water heating. Even at low temperatures, the performance of a collector can be improved by using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) glazing instead of traditional glass because it is less expensive and lighter than glass. Using a comprehensive experimental-simulative study, the Glass Solar water heater (glass SWH) and the low-density polyethylene solar water heater (LDPE SWH) are analyzed, examined, and compared in this work. These solar water heaters have galvanized iron (GI) as their absorber material. The SWHs were operated in a closed loop at a constant mass flow rate of 0.013 kg/s, and a 4E analysis (which stands for energy, exergy, economics, and efficiency recovery ratio) was carried out. This analysis included a look at the dynamic time, uncertainty, weight reduction, carbon footprint, and series connection. An LDPE SWH has an energy efficiency that is 5.57% and an exergy efficiency that is 3.2% higher than a glass SWH. The weight of the LDPE SWH is 32.56% lower than that of the glass SWH. Compared to the price of a conventional geyser, installing our SWH results in a cost savings of 40.9%, and monthly energy costs are reduced by an average of 25.5%. Compared to October, September has the quickest dynamic time to reach the desired temperature, while October has the most significant dynamic time. The efficiency recovery ratio (ERR) of a glass SWH is 0.0239% lower than that of an LDPE SWH. LDPE SWHs had a carbon credit worth INR 294.44 more than glass SWHs. The findings of these tests demonstrate that the LDPE SWH is a practical replacement for traditional means of heating water, such as SWHs and geysers.

Liquid products obtained by the fast pyrolysis process applied to biomass can be used as chemical raw materials and liquid fuels. In this study, tea bush, walnut shell, and pine cone samples selected as biomass samples were obtained from Trabzon and Rize provinces in the Eastern Black Sea Region and used. When considered in terms of our region, the available biomass waste samples are easy to access and have a high potential in quantity. To employ them in the experimental investigation, these biomass samples were first ground, sieved to a particle size of 1.0 mm, and mixed. A fast pyrolysis process was applied to this obtained biomass mixture in a fixed-bed pyrolysis reactor. The effects of temperature, heating rate, and nitrogen flow rate on the product yields of the fast pyrolysis technique used on the biomass mixture are examined. A constant particle size of 1.0 mm, temperatures of 300, 400, 500, 600, and 750 °C, heating rates of 100, 250, 400, and 600 °C.min⁻¹, and flow rates of 50, 100, 200, and 300 cm³.min⁻¹ were used in tests on fast pyrolysis. The studies showed the 500 °C pyrolysis temperature, 100 °C min⁻¹ heating rate, and 50 cm³.min⁻¹ nitrogen flow rate gave the maximum liquid product yield. The liquid product generated under the most compelling circumstances is analyzed to determine moisture, calorific value, fixed carbon, ash, raw coke, and volatile matter. Additionally, the crude bio-oil heating value, measured at 5900 cal/g and produced under the most favorable pyrolysis circumstances, rose by around 40% compared to its starting material. The liquid product obtained from rapid pyrolysis experiments can be used as liquid fuel. The evaluation of the potential of chemical raw materials can be a subject of research in a different discipline since there are many chemical raw materials (glycerine, furfurals, cellulose and derivatives, carbonaceous materials, and so forth) in fast pyrolysis liquids.