Nigeria's energy review: Focusing on solar energy potential and penetration

Abstract

In Nigeria, the rapid population increase and the overreliance on fossil fuel have created significant environmental, health, political, and economic consequences leading to severe socio-economic drawbacks. These factors have developed a wide gap between energy demand and supply due to insufficient local production, necessitating a clean energy supply for all. The photovoltaic device's economic and environmental merits have made it the most suitable clean energy alternative to help developing countries such as Nigeria achieve the SDG-7. However, apart from the device's low efficiency, which is undergoing intensive study globally, other factors affect the penetration of the technology in developing countries, particularly Nigeria. This report systematically reviews the literature on the country's energy crisis and renewable energy potential, leading to an overview of solar energy potential and penetration. The potential of the technology and its penetration in the country were provided. A list highlighting challenges hindering technology penetration was also provided, and a solution for each was recommended.

The challenges and serviceability of solar power: suggestion on solving the Nigeria energy crisis

“…the solar radiation level of Africa is far more than that of the other continents. (2022,Solar Energy in Nigeria Energy access is always a crucial factor for economic development, socio-economic activities, agricultural activities, and living standards [5]. Hence, it is very important to have stable and reliable energy access for developing countries in order to improve their economy.…”

Challenges to energy transitioning in commercial buildings in the Nigerian built environment – from generator to RETs economy

“…Nigeria is the largest user of generators in Africa (IEA, 2019) and the region's 2nd largest GHG emitter (Ritchie and Roser, 2019) as can be seen in Figure 1. This is despite its noteworthy catalogue of both conventional and RE resources and energy potential (Akhator et al, 2019;Chanchangi et al, 2022), described as underexploited and/or overshadowed due to its oil-producing capacity and exportation gains (Abdullahi et al, 2021;Adeyanju et al, 2020;Cervigni et al, 2013). Nigeria is ranked as a leading country with high solar potential (Ohunakin et al, 2014), with solar recognised as not only key to its national energy diversification but also its direct and/or specific use in buildings due to its widespread availability and diverse application (Adesanya and Schelly, 2019;Mas'ud et al, 2016).…”

“…Nigeria is ranked as a leading country with high solar potential (Ohunakin et al, 2014), with solar recognised as not only key to its national energy diversification but also its direct and/or specific use in buildings due to its widespread availability and diverse application (Adesanya and Schelly, 2019;Mas'ud et al, 2016). Additionally, low carbon projections using off-grid technologies such as photovoltaics (PVs) in Nigeria, have been identified as more cost-effective than generators (Cervigni et al, 2013), making it the most suitable alternative clean energy source and solution to its energy crisis (Chanchangi et al, 2022). Notwithstanding, Osuizugbo et al (2020) note that solar energy has not been given the priority it deserves and it is important to understand why, particularly as the building sector consumes 60% of total energy utilisation (Bajare, 2016) and Nigeria seeks to improve and expand energy access through REs (Adesanya and Schelly, 2019) in line with SDG goal 7.…”

“…This is despite its noteworthy catalogue of both conventional and RE resources and energy potential (Akhator et al. , 2019; Chanchangi et al. , 2022), described as underexploited and/or overshadowed due to its oil-producing capacity and exportation gains (Abdullahi et al.…”

“…, 2016). Additionally, low carbon projections using off-grid technologies such as photovoltaics (PVs) in Nigeria, have been identified as more cost-effective than generators (Cervigni et al., 2013), making it the most suitable alternative clean energy source and solution to its energy crisis (Chanchangi et al. , 2022).…”