Design and Sizing of a Standalone Solar PV System for Rural Primary Health Centers in Nigeria: A Techno Economic Assessment
Abstract
The attainment of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), is fundamentally contingent upon the availability of reliable electricity. In Nigeria, the energy deficit in the healthcare sector is acute, with approximately 40% of functional Primary Health Centers (PHCs) completely devoid of grid access, and the remainder suffering from chronic intermittency that compromises critical services such as vaccine cold chains, emergency obstetric care, and diagnostic testing. This research presents a comprehensive, expert-level design and techno-economic analysis of a standalone Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system tailored for a rural PHC in Nigeria. By synthesizing meteorological data across Nigeria?s geopolitical zones contrasting the high-insolation North (Sokoto/Kaduna) with the cloud-prone South (Port Harcourt) the study establishes a robust "worst-case" sizing methodology. The design integrates a 4.4 kWp monocrystalline PV array, a 20 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery energy storage system (BESS), and a 5 kVA hybrid inverter, engineered to support a daily load of approximately 7.0 kWh. The economic analysis, grounded in 2025 market data, reveals a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of approximately $0.14/kWh for the solar solution, compared to over $0.60/kWh for diesel generation. The findings demonstrate that while the initial capital expenditure for solar is higher, the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) is significantly lower, offering a payback period of under two years against a diesel baseline.
Citations
IRE Journals:
Ibekwe Arinze Ignatius, Josephat Chukwudi Akabuike, Ibekwe Adaobi Maryann, Nwauzor Chioma Vivian, Ibekwe Chukwubuikem Francis; Nkiru Ugochukwu Akabuike "Design and Sizing of a Standalone Solar PV System for Rural Primary Health Centers in Nigeria: A Techno Economic Assessment" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 6 2025 Page 1299-1304 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I6-1712522
IEEE:
Ibekwe Arinze Ignatius, Josephat Chukwudi Akabuike, Ibekwe Adaobi Maryann, Nwauzor Chioma Vivian, Ibekwe Chukwubuikem Francis; Nkiru Ugochukwu Akabuike
"Design and Sizing of a Standalone Solar PV System for Rural Primary Health Centers in Nigeria: A Techno Economic Assessment" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(6) https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I6-1712522
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