www.tjprc.org editor@tjprc.org THE SYNOPTIC VIEW OF USING PHOTOVOLTAIC-MICROBIAL FUEL CELL (PV-MFC) RENEWABLE HYBRID SYSTEM TO ADDRESS MUNICIPAL ELECTRICITY NEEDS: CASE STUDY CITY OF UMHLATHUZE MELUSI NHLEKO & FREDDIE L. INAMBAO Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal,Durban, South Africa ABSTRACT Municipalities are often faced with the challenge of balancing their demand for electricity from the utility and the cost of securing adequate electricity from the same. This, together with poor planning, has led to municipalities ordering more electricity from the utility than the actual energy required and consumed on a month-to-month basis, at the expense of its citizenry because of the additional charges incurred by the municipality in this process. This paper proposes a lasting solution which involves renewable sources that the municipality can easily attain to address challenges highlighted by the problem statement and the research questions. The paper highlights the approach of acquiring electricity from renewable energy sources and the impact that feasibility studies as part of planning and the implementation of photovoltaic-microbial fuel cell (PV-MFC) hybrid system can have on municipal electricity status and the municipality’s ability to provide effective services that support economic growth and improved quality of life within its jurisdiction. KEYWORDS: Municipality, Electricity Status, Renewable Energy & PV-MFC Hybrid System Received: Apr 27, 2021; Accepted: May 17, 2021; Published: Jun 15, 2021; Paper Id.: IJMPERDAUG20219 1. INTRODUCTION This paper provides an overview of the importance of innovative thinking in the exploration of renewable energy as a long lasting solution to the present day challenges faced by the country with regards to energy status at a municipal level. Energy sustainability can be implemented and achieved to improve reliability of municipal treatment facilities at the city of uMhlathuze through the use of a hybrid system consisting of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and photovoltaic cell (PVC) technology. An approach of implementing the feasibility of this technology as a means of generating power at the city of uMhlathuze is discussed by highlighting the problem statement and research questions that must be addressed during planning. This paper highlights the gaps caused by poor municipal infrastructure, lack of leadership and committed pursuit by government of renewable energy generation, and decreasing security of energy supply at municipal level. These factors negatively affect the economic activities taking place within the municipal jurisdiction and reduces the quality of life of the general citizens. Furthermore, the paper highlights the benefits of local municipalities generating their own power from readily available and easy to process renewable sources using hybrid renewable energy systems such as a PV-MFC hybrid system in order to be able to deliver suitable services to the people and the trading enterprises operating within the care of the municipality. uMhlathuze municipality is, according to the Constitution of the land, responsible for implementing Original Article International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD) ISSN (P): 2249–6890; ISSN (E): 2249–8001 Vol. 11, Issue 4, Aug 2021, 113-128 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.