Track: Sustainability

Abstract

Renewable energy is currently the direction in which the world is headed due to its sustainable, inexhaustible, and pollution free nature. It is gradually replacing conventional means of generating energy supply such as the use of fossil fuels. The appeal of renewable energy comes in its unique application in areas such as rural (off-grid systems), distributed power generation, micro-grid systems, electricity generation, space and water heating, more efficient transportation systems, space and satellite systems, and improved electronics and appliances. The fact that most renewable energy sources are abundantly available and environmental-friendly proposes it to be the solution to the world’s energy supply problems. This paper, therefore, provides a short review of hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with a focus on the opportunities, challenges, and future directions as it relates to sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights current research on hybrid energy systems and the hybridization techniques, standard for HRES optimizations, opportunities, challenges, future directions, applications, off-grid, and micro-grid systems.