Renewable Energy in Nigeria: A Bright Future Ahead
Nigeria is a country undergoing exponential population growth and grappling with a variety of economic challenges that necessitate the utilization of sustainable energy resources in order to meet climate objectives. The increasing demand for energy in the country is placing strain on existing power infrastructure, while also presenting an opportunity for further economic expansion.
Nigeria boasts an abundance of fossil fuels as well as the potential for significant production of renewable energy, including sources such as solar, hydropower, and wind. Despite this potential for clean energy, much of it remains untapped. However, the current situation presents an opportune moment to overhaul the energy mix and provide more reliable power to the populace.
According to Francesco La Camera, the director of the International Renewables Energy Agency (IRENA), Nigeria possesses the resources to provide sustainable energy to all its citizens in a cost-effective manner through its plentiful and untapped renewable energy sources. This presents a unique opportunity for the country to establish a sustainable energy system based on renewables, which has the potential to drive socio-economic recovery and development, while also addressing climate challenges and ensuring energy security.
The IRENA renewables report indicates that renewable energy sources could potentially fulfill nearly 60% of Nigeria’s energy demand by 2050. This could potentially reduce the country’s demand for oil by 65% and natural gas by 40%. Furthermore, renewables could account for 47% of total energy demand by 2030 and 57% by 2040, which are noteworthy figures for a country that has not historically invested significantly in renewables.
Research shows that Nigeria’s power generation capacity was at 7.5GW in 2019, with only 15.6% of this being generated by renewables. A substantial 74% of the energy consumed in the same year was produced by generators, resulting in an estimated $29 billion loss in economic productivity due to erratic power supply, as reported by the Nigeria Electrification Agency.
The projected nearly twofold increase in electricity production by 2050 could significantly contribute to the increased share of renewable energy. However, this would require the power sector to accelerate the addition of electricity infrastructure to tap into Nigeria’s renewable energy resources. Improving the grid has been identified as the optimal solution to provide 60% of the population with access to electricity, contingent on enhancements in reliability and supply, as indicated by the International Energy Agency.
It has been emphasized that Nigeria still has a long way to go, despite the 67 off-grid power projects initiated by the Rural Electrification Agency. The focus must now shift towards renewables instead of relying heavily on the country’s fossil fuel resources. This would align with Nigeria’s target of a 20% to 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Investment in renewable infrastructure in Nigeria has garnered considerable interest, with various initiatives such as Solar Nigeria, an $80.6 million UK government initiative announced in 2014, aimed at developing a distributed solar energy market in the country. The northern region of Nigeria has also exhibited potential for wind energy, with average wind speeds more than adequate to support wind turbines. This serves as evidence that Nigeria is making strides towards renewable energy, as demonstrated by Shell’s acquisition of Nigerian renewable energy provider Daystar Power.
In conclusion, Nigeria has the potential to achieve a sustainable energy system through the development of renewable resources, which can drive economic growth, address climate challenges, and provide energy security. The country has already taken the first steps towards the transition to renewables, showing the promise of a bright future for the energy sector in Nigeria.
