Abstract:
This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of Mara Serena
Lodge's current means of electricity generation infrastructure consisting of a
PV/LPG/Battery and a hybrid system that would incorporate PV/Biogas/Battery,
incorporating literature from various authors on the subject matter. The data used was
acquired from the site by means of a data logger and the simulations performed were
done using HOMER pro software. The analysis indicates a higher cost implication
associated with the utilization of biogas energy in terms of LCOE, NPC, and initial
capital, and operating capital. Biogas presents values of the above at Ksh 63.41, Ksh
979 million, Ksh 463 million, and Ksh 39.9 million, respectively. In contrast, diesel
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generators exhibit Ksh 57.92, Ksh 846 million, Ksh 51.4 million, Ksh 61.4 million of the
same. However, the fuel consumption of diesel generators is at 282,277 liters annually
whereas that of biogas is at 272,822 liters. Despite the economic advantages of using
diesel, there exists the drawback of the substantial amount of carbon dioxide emissions
which are detrimental to the climate.
