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Abstract Currently in the world, the development of renewable energy appears as a relevant contribution fighting against the climate change. Micro hydro power plants (MHPP) are an excellent method of harnessing renewable energy. Cameroon has lots of small waterfalls suitable for the development of MHPP. But, their development is not yet effective because of the lack of data and technology skills. The objective of this work is to develop and propose a software tool for the feasibility studies of MHPP in Cameroon, which take into account locals advantages and constraints in the intention to contribute to the efficiency of their development in that country. The software named Mass_Hydro has been developed using the development environment called Eclipse. That tool has particularity to allow respectively, through nine (9) modules, to register data about acknowledgement of the site and calculate the height of the waterfall (m), to estimate the demand of power (kW), calculate the potential (kW), plot flow duration curve and propose a installed power (kW), propose a turbine, estimate the investment cost and simulate the profitability, payback period and finally help to design Weir, intake, channel, fore bay, penstock and power house. The effectiveness of that software was successfully confirmed in the application on two MHPP (Kemken and Bakassa) already studied in Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional electrification methods, including grid extension and stand-alone diesel generators, have shown limitations to sustainability in the face of rural electrification challenges in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where electrification rates remain the lowest in the world. This study aims at performing a techno-economic analysis and optimization of a pumped-hydro energy storage based 100%-renewable off-grid hybrid energy system for the electrification of Djoundé, which is a small village in northern Cameroon. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software was used as an analysis tool, and the resulting optimal system architecture included an 81.8 kW PV array and a 15 kW biogas generator, with a cost of energy (COE) and total net present cost (NPC) of €0.256/kWh and €370,426, respectively. The system showed promise given the upcoming decrease in installation cost of photovoltaic systems. It will be viable in parts of SSA region but, significant investment subsidies will be needed elsewhere. The originality of this study can be emphasized in three points: (1) the modelling with the recently introduced pumped-hydro component of HOMER; (2) broadening sensitivity analysis applications to address practical issues related to hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES); and, (3) consideration of the agricultural sector and seasonal variation in the assessment of the electricity demand in an area of SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon dioxide recharge and limnic eruption processes in deep lakes are reviewed. • Novel system associating pumped-hydro storage and deep lakes degassing is analysed. • The proposed system gives way to sustainable and useful gas removal from deep lakes. • Technical arrangements for pumped-hydro storage at natural deep lakes is provided. • The levelised cost of storage for the proposed system is analysed. Nowadays, pumped-hydro storage is the most established large-scale energy storage technology, but its implementation is seriously constrained by the availability of favourable sites. The geographical symbiosis between mountainous areas and deep lakes offers good prospects for the detection of such sites. In these areas, the generally meromictic structure of such lakes causes carbon dioxide saturation in the deep waters and, in order to mitigate the risk of lethal limnic eruptions as the world has already experienced, the gas-lift technique is being applied although it has a serious environmental drawback. This paper proposes an innovative and sustainable symbiotic match between pumped-hydro energy storage with the ideal deep lake degassing solution, providing removal of toxic gases from deep layers without polluting the surface waters of the lake. Considering the two Cameroonian "killer lakes" Nyos and Monoun taken as cases studies, the feasibility of the proposed system is analysed as well as conditions for participation in the local power market. As a result, the threat posed by these two hazardous water bodies is transformed into an opportunity to store about 756 MWh of electrical energy. In terms of installed capacity, this can achieve as much as 80 MW available for harnessing variable renewable energy and contributing to peak power supply. Finally, thanks to the number and distribution of deep lakes around the world, the proposed system shows capability to significantly contribute to the global energy storage potential in a context marked by an ever increasing need for flexibility in power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]