IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i12p3125-d1678776.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the Potential of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System: MSW Gasification and a PV Park in Lobito, Angola

Author

Listed:
  • Salomão Joaquim

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Nuno Amaro

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
    UNINOVA, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
    LASI, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Nuno Lapa

    (LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Departmental Building, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

Abstract

This study investigates a hybrid renewable energy system combining the municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification and solar photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation in Lobito, Angola. A fixed-bed downdraft gasifier was selected for MSW gasification, where the thermal decomposition of waste under controlled air flow produces syngas rich in CO and H 2 . The syngas is treated to remove contaminants before powering a combined cycle. The PV system was designed for optimal energy generation, considering local solar radiation and shading effects. Simulation tools, including Aspen Plus v11.0, PVsyst v8, and HOMER Pro software 3.16.2, were used for modeling and optimization. The hybrid system generates 62 GWh/year of electricity, with the gasifier contributing 42 GWh/year, and the PV system contributing 20 GWh/year. This total energy output, sufficient to power 1186 households, demonstrates an integration mechanism that mitigates the intermittency of solar energy through continuous MSW gasification. However, the system lacks surplus electricity for green hydrogen production, given the region’s energy deficit. Economically, the system achieves a Levelized Cost of Energy of 0.1792 USD/kWh and a payback period of 16 years. This extended payback period is mainly due to the hydrogen production system, which has a low production rate and is not economically viable. When excluding H 2 production, the payback period is reduced to 11 years, making the hybrid system more attractive. Environmental benefits include a reduction in CO 2 emissions of 42,000 t/year from MSW gasification and 395 t/year from PV production, while also addressing waste management challenges. This study highlights the mechanisms behind hybrid system operation, emphasizing its role in reducing energy poverty, improving public health, and promoting sustainable development in Angola.

Suggested Citation

  • Salomão Joaquim & Nuno Amaro & Nuno Lapa, 2025. "Assessing the Potential of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System: MSW Gasification and a PV Park in Lobito, Angola," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:12:p:3125-:d:1678776
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/12/3125/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/12/3125/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Macías, Robert J. & Ceballos, Carlos & Ordonez-Loza, Javier & Ortiz, Michell & Gómez, Carlos A. & Chejne, Farid & Vélez, Fredy, 2022. "Evaluation of the performance of a solar photovoltaic - Biomass gasifier system as electricity supplier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Cano, Antonio & Arévalo, Paul & Jurado, Francisco, 2020. "Energy analysis and techno-economic assessment of a hybrid PV/HKT/BAT system using biomass gasifier: Cuenca-Ecuador case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    3. Pei Juan Yew & Deepak Chaulagain & Noel Ngando Same & Jaebum Park & Jeong-Ok Lim & Jeung-Soo Huh, 2024. "Optimal Hybrid Renewable Energy System to Accelerate a Sustainable Energy Transition in Johor, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, September.
    4. Ribó-Pérez, David & Herraiz-Cañete, Ángela & Alfonso-Solar, David & Vargas-Salgado, Carlos & Gómez-Navarro, Tomás, 2021. "Modelling biomass gasifiers in hybrid renewable energy microgrids; a complete procedure for enabling gasifiers simulation in HOMER," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 501-512.
    5. Manzoore Elahi M Soudagar & S Ramesh & T M Yunus Khan & Naif Almakayeel & R Ramesh & Nik Nazri Nik Ghazali & Erdem Cuce & Sagar Shelare, 2024. "An overview of the existing and future state of the art advancement of hybrid energy systems based on PV-solar and wind," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 19, pages 207-216.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Reguieg, Zakaria & Bouyakoub, Ismail & Mehedi, Fayçal, 2025. "Integrated optimization of power quality and energy management in a photovoltaic-battery microgrid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    2. Aktas, Ilter Sahin, 2024. "Techno-economic feasibility analysis and optimisation of on/off-grid wind-biogas-CHP hybrid energy system for the electrification of university campus: A case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PC).
    3. Pei Juan Yew & Deepak Chaulagain & Noel Ngando Same & Jaebum Park & Jeong-Ok Lim & Jeung-Soo Huh, 2024. "Optimal Hybrid Renewable Energy System to Accelerate a Sustainable Energy Transition in Johor, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, September.
    4. Thirunavukkarasu, M. & Sawle, Yashwant & Lala, Himadri, 2023. "A comprehensive review on optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems using various optimization techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    5. Saxena, Vivek & Kumar, Narendra & Manna, Saibal & Rajput, Saurabh Kumar & Agarwal, Kusum Lata & Diwania, Sourav & Gupta, Varun, 2025. "Modelling, solution and application of optimization techniques in HRES: From conventional to artificial intelligence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    6. Arévalo, Paúl & Cano, Antonio & Jurado, Francisco, 2022. "Mitigation of carbon footprint with 100% renewable energy system by 2050: The case of Galapagos islands," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    7. Fazlur Rashid & Md. Emdadul Hoque & Muhammad Aziz & Talukdar Nazmus Sakib & Md. Tariqul Islam & Raihan Moker Robin, 2021. "Investigation of Optimal Hybrid Energy Systems Using Available Energy Sources in a Rural Area of Bangladesh," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    8. Ma, Qian & Huang, Xiang & Wang, Feng & Xu, Chao & Babaei, Reza & Ahmadian, Hossein, 2022. "Optimal sizing and feasibility analysis of grid-isolated renewable hybrid microgrids: Effects of energy management controllers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    9. Wojciech Lewicki & Mariusz Niekurzak & Adam Koniuszy, 2025. "Evaluation of the Possibility of Using a Home Wind Installation as Part of the Operation of Hybrid Systems—A Selected Case Study of Investment Profitability Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-24, April.
    10. Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Akinte & Ritthichai Ratchapan & Sarun Nakthanom & Krisada Prompinit & Boonyang Plangklang, 2025. "Performance Ratio and Econometrics of a Community Waste Power Plant (Biogas) System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-44, June.
    11. Azam Beigi Kheradmand & Mahdi Heidari Soureshjani & Mehdi Jahangiri & Bejan Hamawandi, 2025. "Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of Gray Hydrogen Production Costs: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-19, January.
    12. Keifa Vamba Konneh & Hasan Masrur & Mohammad Lutfi Othman & Hiroshi Takahashi & Narayanan Krishna & Tomonobu Senjyu, 2021. "Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Approach for a Cost-Effective and Sustainable Energy System Considering Weight Assignment Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-22, May.
    13. Krzysztof Lewandowski, 2025. "Modern Energy Sources for Sustainable Buildings: Innovations and Energy Efficiency in Green Construction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, February.
    14. Hassan, Rakibul & Das, Barun K. & Hasan, Mahmudul, 2022. "Integrated off-grid hybrid renewable energy system optimization based on economic, environmental, and social indicators for sustainable development," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    15. Mohammadi, Amir & Babaei, Reza & Jianu, Ofelia A., 2023. "Feasibility analysis of sustainable hydrogen production for heavy-duty applications: Case study of highway 401," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    16. Konneh, Keifa Vamba & Adewuyi, Oludamilare Bode & Gamil, Mahmoud M. & Fazli, Agha Mohammad & Senjyu, Tomonobu, 2023. "A scenario-based multi-attribute decision making approach for optimal design of a hybrid off-grid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    17. Sanni, Shereefdeen Oladapo & Oricha, Joseph Yakubu & Oyewole, Taoheed Oluwafemi & Bawonda, Femi Ikotoni, 2021. "Analysis of backup power supply for unreliable grid using hybrid solar PV/diesel/biogas system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    18. Das, Barun K. & Tushar, Mohammad Shahed H.K. & Zaman, Forhad, 2021. "Techno-economic feasibility and size optimisation of an off-grid hybrid system for supplying electricity and thermal loads," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PA).
    19. Islam, M.S. & Das, Barun K. & Das, Pronob & Rahaman, Md Habibur, 2021. "Techno-economic optimization of a zero emission energy system for a coastal community in Newfoundland, Canada," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    20. Thirunavukkarasu, M. & Lala, Himadri & Sawle, Yashwant, 2023. "Techno-economic-environmental analysis of off-grid hybrid energy systems using honey badger optimizer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:12:p:3125-:d:1678776. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.