article · Science Discovery Energy
Energy unreliability, frequent power outages, and rising fuel and maintenance costs severely affect institutional buildings in developing economies, including Nigeria, where reliance on the grid and diesel generators is common. To address these challenges, a Life Cycle Improvement Framework was developed to optimise renewable energy systems. The framework combines life cycle cost analysis, power supply loss probability, and sustainability metrics. Applied to a student hostel at Auchi Polytechnic using empirical field audits, surveys, and simulation modelling over a twenty-year horizon, the framework evaluated a solar photovoltaic plus battery system against a conventional grid and diesel generator setup. The solar and battery configuration delivered superior technical, economic, and environmental performance, lowering life-cycle costs by over 35 per cent, securing an exceptionally reliable electricity supply, and substantially decreasing greenhouse gas emissions alongside fossil fuel dependence.
Educational institutions in developing countries frequently endure power cuts and escalating generator fuel expenses that disrupt operations. By demonstrating that solar and battery systems deliver lower total costs, steady electricity, and reduced emissions over two decades, this research provides institutional administrators and energy planners with clear evidence to justify shifting from fossil-fuel generators to clean energy infrastructure.
The decision-support framework is an applied planning tool tested on actual institutional building data. It directly assists institutional facility managers, university administrators, and energy planners in evaluating and specifying solar-plus-battery investments. Because the framework integrates empirical audit data and twenty-year simulation modelling, it appears ready for operational deployment by consultancy services or infrastructure decision-makers planning renewable energy transitions across institutional campuses.
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Energy unreliability and escalating operational costs continue to undermine the performance of institutional buildings in developing economies, particularly in Nigeria, where dependence on grid electricity and diesel generators remains widespread. Frequent power outages, rising fuel prices, and increasing maintenance costs negatively affect the quality of services, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability of educational institutions. This study developed and applied a Life Cycle Improvement Framework (LCIM) to optimise renewable energy systems in institutional buildings by integrating Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA), Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP), and sustainability assessment into a comprehensive decision-support framework. The student hostel at Auchi Polytechnic, Nigeria, was used as a case study. Empirical data were obtained through field energy audits, stakeholder surveys, and simulation-based performance modelling to evaluate and compare two energy configurations: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) + Battery and Grid + Diesel Generator over a 20-year life cycle. The findings reveal that the Solar PV + Battery system outperformed the conventional Grid + Diesel Generator configuration across economic, technical, and environmental indicators. Specifically, the renewable energy system achieved a life-cycle cost reduction of more than 35%, while maintaining a near-zero Loss of Power Supply Probability (0–0.37%), indicating a highly reliable electricity supply capable of meeting institutional energy demand. In addition, the environmental assessment demonstrated substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and overall environmental impact, contributing to improved sustainability performance. These results highlight the potential of renewable energy technologies to enhance energy security while reducing long-term operating costs in institutional buildings. The study concludes that the proposed LCIM is an effective and practical framework for evaluating and optimising renewable energy investments. It provides policymakers, institutional managers, and energy planners with a reliable tool for sustainable energy decision-making and supports the wider adoption of renewable energy systems for institutional infrastructure development in Nigeria and other developing countries facing similar energy challenges.
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DOI: 10.11648/j.sdenergy.20260102.11
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