Optimal Scheduling of Renewable Energy Resources in a Microgrid System for Rural Electrification in Sokoto State

Rural electrification through solar-diesel microgrids represents a viable pathway to expanding energy access in Nigeria's Northwest zone, where grid extension costs are prohibitive for dispersed settlements. This study develops an optimal scheduling model for a renewable energy microgrid serving 12 rural communities in Sokoto State, integrating solar photovoltaic generation, diesel backup, and battery storage. The scheduling problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programme that minimizes total operating cost, encompassing diesel fuel consumption, battery degradation, and load curtailment penalties, over a 24-hour scheduling horizon subject to power balance, battery state-of-charge, generator ramp rate, and community load demand constraints. Solar irradiance and community load demand data are obtained from field measurements and the World Bank Global Solar Atlas. Stochastic scenarios for solar generation uncertainty are incorporated using a scenario tree approach. Results indicate that the optimal schedule reduces daily diesel fuel consumption by 41 percent relative to the current diesel-only baseline, saving an estimated N8,200 per day per community at current fuel prices. Battery storage scheduling is identified as critical to capturing the maximum solar penetration benefit, avoiding mid-day curtailment while maintaining adequate reserve for evening peak demand. Sensitivity analysis shows that a 20 percent increase in solar panel capacity yields a further 18 percent cost reduction. Recommendations include investment in expanded solar capacity and real-time automated scheduling control systems. Keywords: microgrid scheduling, renewable energy, rural electrification, Sokoto State, mixed-integer programming