Study on an Economic Feasibility of Wind-Diesel Hybrid System

Economic feasibility study on wind-diesel hybrid power generation system was conducted in Baragoi, Samburu County in Kenya. Currently, there is one autonomous diesel generation plant (300 kVA) which feeds an isolated grid. However, the cost of power production by diesel generation in Baragoi is relatively high compared to the relative power cost from the national main grid. Therefore, in order to reduce power production cost, optimum configuration of the wind-diesel hybrid generation system and the economic feasibility were studied. In the study, operational data of the existing diesel generator and wind potential were analyzed, and optimum configuration of wind and diesel hybrid system was proposed. In addition, economic feasibility study of the hybrid system was conducted. In the result, economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of the proposed wind-diesel hybrid power plant was obtained as 10%.