Techno-economic feasibility of alternative energy sources for community water supply in Ghana

Abstract

Access to clean water remains a major challenge in many developing regions where unreliable electricity supply disrupts water production and distribution. In Goaso, frequent grid instability and power outages significantly affect the reliability of the community water supply system, with adverse implications for public health and socioeconomic development. This study evaluated the techno-economic and environmental performance of four alternative energy systems for improving water supply reliability in Goaso using the HOMER optimisation model. The assessed configurations included the existing grid-only system, the solar photovoltaic (PV)-only system, the hybrid solar PV–grid system, and the hybrid solar PV–diesel generator system. The analysis incorporated a community water demand of 356 m³/day and assessed key performance indicators including Net Present Cost (NPC), Return on Investment (ROI), payback period, operating cost, and CO₂ emissions. The existing grid-only system recorded an NPC of US$166,329 and annual CO₂ emissions of 58,692 kg. The hybrid solar PV–grid system achieved the best overall performance with an NPC of US$144,698, a payback period of 8.4 years, an ROI of 200%, and reduced annual CO₂ emissions of 36,635 kg. Although the solar PV-only system achieved zero operational CO₂ emissions, its higher infrastructure requirements increased lifecycle cost. Sensitivity analysis further showed that renewable-dominant systems are more resilient to inflation and fuel price fluctuations than fossil-fuel-dependent alternatives. Overall, the hybrid solar PV–grid system provides the most suitable balance between economic viability, environmental sustainability, and operational reliability for community water supply systems in energy-constrained regions.