Abstract
This paper proposes the use of sustainable energy systems based on solar and biomass technologies to provide solutions to utility challenges in Nigeria and acute water shortage both in rural and urban areas of that country. The paper highlights the paradoxes of oil-rich Nigeria and the stark reality of social infrastructure deprivations in that country. Perennial power outages over many years have translated to the absence of or poorly-developed basic social infrastructures in Nigeria. The consequences of this lack have been an increase in abject poverty in rural and urban communities as well as the erosion of social order and threats to citizen and their property. This paper proposes the adaptation of two emerging technologies for building sustainable energy systems and the development of decentralized and sustainable energy sources as catalyst for much-needed social infrastructure development through the creation of Renewable Energy Business Incubators, creative lending strategies, NGO partnerships and shifting energy-distribution responsibilities. These changes will stimulate grassroots economies in the country, develop large quantities of much needed clean water, maintain acceptable standards of sanitation and improve the health and wellbeing of Nigerian communities. The proposed strategies are specific to the Nigerian context; however, the authors suggest that the same or similar strategies may provide energy and social infrastructure development solutions to other developing countries as well.
Highlights
Nigeria’s chance to raise the standard of living for its citizens and stabilize its social, economic and political systems lies in its commitment to increase energy output and utilization starting at the grassroots level
Nigeria cannot afford to indulge in the traditional exploitation of depleting energy sources such as wood and fossil fuel
Identifies the sustainable energy system enterprises that will create maximum benefit at the grassroots and community level; Prioritizes the effectiveness of those sustainable energy enterprises; Identifies the distributed social infrastructures that will benefit from the identified sustainable energy sources; and Recommends a model that will develop the appropriate sustainable energy enterprises as well as cultivate a sense of ownership by the beneficial community through education support in the area of resource management
Summary
Nigeria’s chance to raise the standard of living for its citizens and stabilize its social, economic and political systems lies in its commitment to increase energy output and utilization starting at the grassroots level. Application of sustainable energy systems as a means of developing distributed and decentralized social infrastructures in Nigeria will stimulate grassroots economic development as well as ―stem the prevailing state of crime, provide access to sufficient quantities of clean water and maintain acceptable standards of food and goods production, sanitation, and health‖ [1] for that country’s citizens. These factors are part of the hierarchy of basic human needs that gauge the well-being of any community and are key elements to consider for a stable Nigerian nation. The centers will: Stimulate solar energy and other renewable energy inventions and innovations at technical colleges and universities through courses focused on inventive design in the context of renewable energy; Coordinate the development of inventive ideas in sustainable energy between Nigerian technical colleges and universities; Manage the innovation process, i.e., the transformation of ideas into commercial products and processes; Solicit financial and logistic support for inventors to develop their patentable/patented inventions for mass production and marketing
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