Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

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    Feasibility study for off-grid PV/wind/battery hybrid system A case for four selected sites in Geba Catchment, Tigray, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-12-28) Welegebriel Wedajoo
    This thesis examines the viability of off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems in the Geba catchment area of Tigray, Ethiopia, where rural electrification remains low despite ongoing efforts, with national coverage lingering around 50% since 2018. The selected sites: Zban-Maydora, Manda, Agewo, and Adi-Selam were analyzed for their capacity to support these smaller-scale systems. Energy Demand and Forecasting: A local assessment of energy needs was conducted for households and service centers, revealing significant projected growth over the next five years. - System Design and Simulation: Using HOMER software, a feasibility study was performed to optimize hybrid energy systems for each site. Various sensitivity variables were analyzed, allowing for ranking based on their Net Present Cost (NPC). Economic evaluation: using RETScreen software indicated that all systems have negative Net Present Values (NPV), making them financially unviable. The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) ranged from 0.969 USD/kWh to 2.52 USD/kWh, well above the residential tariff of 0.08 USD/kWh (2019 EEU rates). Despite local communities' willingness to pay, the high upfront costs and inflation in Ethiopia make these systems impractical without external funding or subsidies. Conclusion: Off-grid hybrid energy systems are currently economically unviable for rural electrification due to high initial costs, inflation, and elevated LCOE. Feasibility may improve with external financial support, like subsidies from NGOs or government assistance. This study also addresses critiques of using RETScreen for hybrid systems, offering valuable insights for future rural electrification projects. Additional Findings: The research highlights renewable energy sources like solar and wind as sustainable alternatives to traditional energy, addressing health and environmental concerns. It also integrates HOMER and RETScreen software for multi-renewable hybrid systems and advanced load demand forecasting methods used by the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU). While off-grid renewable systems could help electrify remote villages, their financial feasibility is limited, necessitating external financial support or significant economic changes for viability.
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    OPTIMIZING BIOMASS COMBUSTION IN INDUSTRIAL BURNERS: A CASE STUDY ON MASS AND ENERGY BALANCE AT MAICHEW PARTICLE BOARD FACTORY
    (Mekelle University, 2025-04-28) Haregeweiny Weldu Hailu
    The growing need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels has prompted exploration of biomass as a sustainable energy source. Maichew Particle Board Factory, a sister company of EFFORT, producing 3,360 tons of sawdust annually, has untapped potential to utilize biomass for energy generation. This study aims to perform a mass and energy balance analysis on the factory's burner, optimize the air-to-fuel ratio, and identify challenges in transitioning to biomass as the primary fuel. A combustion analysis was conducted using the fuel combustion equation, and optimization of the air-to-fuel ratio was carried out using Microsoft Excel Solver. The analysis revealed that the burner consumes 376.95 kg of sawdust per hour and 6,1 80.9 kg of air per hour, producing 5,791 .5 MJ/hr of flue gas energy for the dryer. The findings underscore the factory's capacity to utilize sawdust effectively as fuel, offering a pathway to reduce fossil fuel dependence and enhance energy efficiency in biomass-based operations.