Environmental Assessment of Hybrid Power Generation in Industrial Zones of Ibadan: Case Studies of Oluyole and Dugbe
D. A. Oke
Department of Civil Engineering, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria.
S. B. Raheem *
Department of Civil Engineering, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria.
G. F. Oladiran
Department of Civil Engineering, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria.
K. A. Apanpa
Department of Geology, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria.
R. A. Oduleke
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hybrid power systems are increasingly used to improve electricity reliability in Nigerian industrial areas, but their site-level environmental implications remain insufficiently documented. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of hybrid power generation systems in the industrial zones of Ibadan, Nigeria, with emphasis on Oluyole and Dugbe. The study aimed to assess air quality and noise pollution associated with hybrid systems, analyse their effects on ecosystems and human health, and document respondents' perceptions of their socioeconomic implications. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative field measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde (HCHO), particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁.₀), and noise levels at a Food Processing Plant and a Textile Factory in Oluyole and at a Printing Press and a Supermarket Cluster in Dugbe with qualitative data from structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents across both areas and analysed collectively. Field measurements showed that several pollutant concentrations and noise levels exceeded the relevant World Health Organization (WHO) air-quality guideline values and the NIOSH occupational-noise recommendation at all four facilities. Carbon monoxide and particulate concentrations were highest at the Food Processing Plant and Supermarket Cluster, whereas volatile organic compound and formaldehyde concentrations were highest at the Printing Press and Textile Factory, indicating potential risks to workers and nearby residents. Because sampling comprised short morning-period readings rather than the full averaging periods specified in the WHO guideline values, these comparisons should be treated as indicative rather than as formal compliance assessments. Respondents perceived hybrid systems as an improvement over diesel-only generators, reporting less visible smoke and perceived improvements in air quality, together with economic benefits such as reduced operational costs, improved energy reliability, and job creation; these perceptions were not independently corroborated using emissions, financial, or employment data. However, concerns were raised about inadequate waste management, weak enforcement of environmental regulations, and the limited integration of renewable energy sources within hybrid configurations. The study concludes that hybrid systems may contribute to sustainable energy access but present environmental trade-offs that warrant further investigation, particularly through controlled comparisons with diesel-only systems and extended monitoring periods. Recommendations include increasing the share of renewable components, enforcing stricter environmental policies, adopting emission-reduction and noise-control technologies, and strengthening community engagement. These findings offer preliminary guidance to policymakers, regulators, and industrial stakeholders seeking to balance energy reliability with environmental sustainability in Nigeria's industrial zones.
Keywords: Hybrid power systems, industrial energy, air quality, noise pollution, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, renewable energy, environmental assessment, stakeholder perceptions