Economic-Energy Assessment of the Hybrid Isolated Microgrid SPV/Wind/Batteries at the Guayaquil Campus

In Ecuador, approximately 58% of total electricity generation is based on hydroelectric power, however, large amounts of fossil fuel are being used for energy production, contributing to environmental degradation. Therefore, switching to renewable sources such as solar and wind power for electricity generation is imperative. In the current situation, solar power generation is perceived as costly to implement. Installing solar equipment for educational buildings is challenging due to the lack of sufficient technical awareness to choose suitable components with appropriate ratings. In this paper, it is proposed to carry out an economic-energy evaluation of a hybrid solar/wind/battery system on the roof of a university building without connection to the grid to power the lighting of a laboratory. A detailed experimental case is presented using actual charging specifications and costs of solar technologies available in the Ecuadorian market. The payback period for the initial investment is 25 years. Although this paper uses a conservative model based on prevailing market conditions, it makes a compelling case for educational institutions in Ecuador to consider transitioning to rooftop solar PV systems to meet their load needs.