A Roadmap to Universal Energy Access in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has a significant number of people in Africa without access to electricity. Achieving universal electricity access in Nigeria will have a significant impact on a large number of people’s lives. Currently, Nigeria’s main barriers to universal energy access is rural electrification and unreliable electricity from the grid. Both have significantly influenced the productivity of Nigeria’s economy, which points to the potentially significant economic growth impact that reliable and universal electricity access will have in Nigeria. Access to clean cooking is another challenge faced in Nigeria. More than 80% of households do not have access to clean energy for cooking. In addition to limited access to electricity, other socio-economic factors such as increasing poverty rate, inflation and the poor distribution network for LPG have contributed to the low access to clean energy for cooking. In order to come up with recommendations to increase electricity access in Nigeria, a feasibility study was evaluated using Ikate, Lagos State, Nigeria as the target location. This pilot project demonstrated that electrification via solar home systems and mini-grids is a good starting point for increasing energy access for rural and urban areas in Nigeria. The proposed solution is to use Off-Grid and Mini-Grid Renewable Energy to tackle the problem of access to electricity. The results showed that with a combination of a Solar PV and Generator, only the case of 100kWh/person/year would be affordable by the residents of the community, but will still require some significant capital outlay. A net metering policy that will clarify how customers who generate electricity from renewable energy can manage the excess energy they generate, thus encouraging private participation in renewable energy generation. In addition, we address pathways to improve access to clean cooking across households in Nigeria. Combined with pathways for improving access to electricity forms a basis for a roadmap to ensuring universal energy access in Nigeria.