Socio-Economic Benefits and Environmental Sustainability Analysis of Photovoltaic Solar Systems in Geidam town: A Pathway to Sustainable Energy Development

Abstract

This study evaluates the socio-economic and environmental impacts of deploying photovoltaic (PV) solar systems in Geidam area of Yobe State, Nigeria. HOMER Grid software, system optimization was conducted to determine the most viable PV configurations. The results demonstrate that PV integration significantly reduces electricity costs, offers quick investment payback, improves energy access, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the optimized system (531 kW solar + storage) achieved annual savings of ₦5.75 million, a project lifetime savings of ₦143.7 million, and avoided approximately 18.1 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually. These findings underscore the potential of solar PV as a sustainable pathway for rural electrification, poverty alleviation, and climate change mitigation in northern Nigeria.

Keywords: Photovoltaic solar system; Socio-economic benefits; Environmental sustainability; Rural electrification; Renewable energy