Techno-economic optimization of hydrogen-based hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa: Case study of a photovoltaic/wind/hydrogen system in Dargalla, Cameroon

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) are an effective tool for addressing the challenges of rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, their viability is limited by the lifespan, environmental impacts, high costs, and inefficiency of conventional energy storage technologies (battery and pumped-hydro). This study examines a hydrogen-based energy storage system, combined with photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy, for the electrification of Dargalla, a village in northern Cameroon. The goal is to meet community and agricultural electricity needs while optimizing the system. The analysis utilized HOMER software to simulate, model, and optimize the system. The optimal architecture consisted of a 50-kW photovoltaic (PV) array, a 10-kW wind turbine, a 10-kW fuel cell, a 30-kW electrolyser, a 25-kg hydrogen tank, and a 10-kW converter. The optimised system's net present cost and cost of energy were assessed at USD 138,202 and USD 0.443/kWh, respectively. Sensitivity analysis results showed that areas with high wind speeds would be mainly suitable for the proposed system. Moreover, with the upcoming decrease in the costs of fuel cells and PV components, such systems are expected to become more economically viable in the future, leading to the conclusion that integration of hydrogen-based energy storage technology in HRESs in SSA can effectively address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and the historic Paris Climate Agreement (HCA).