Improve Electricity Supply Research Articles

Willingness to Pay for Electricity Supply Improvements in Rural India

This study undertakes a survey using a random sample of 2083 households in rural Madhya Pradesh, India, to estimate benefits of improved electricity supply to rural households. The survey estimated that the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for a household fo

Urban residential energy use in Kandahar, Afghanistan

The paper presents an insight to the household energy consumption in urban Afghanistan, and is based on household surveys conducted in one of its growing cities – Kandahar. The analysis shows that the energy consumed in residential sector has the major share in the total energy consumed in urban Afghanistan. About 72% of the total residential energy is spent for cooking purposes, and firewood is still the predominant form of energy with a share of around 58% for different end uses. Details on current energy process and the energy expenditure for different income levels have been presented. Although the total energy consumption in urban household is relatively lower in Afghanistan, the paper argues that the increase in consumption and transition to modern fuels is likely with increased urbanization, socioeconomic development and improved electricity supply. Against the backdrop of likely increase in energy use, the issue of sustainability becomes significant and therefore, policies are key to ensuring energy development taking into consideration sustainability concerns.

Kirkuk municipal waste to electrical energy

Municipal solid waste (MSW) in Kirkuk city in the north of Iraq poses a serious problem having adverse effects on environment and health of the citizens. Both quantity and volume of MSW have continued to increase with the rapid growth of city population. The population of Kirkuk city, on average, has increased by 3% per annum over the past two decades. The population of Kirkuk city is predicted to increase from 1,050,000 in 2008 to 1,445,556 in 2020. The generation of waste is expected to grow in the future with the rise of city population. The daily waste generation is projected to 1000tone in 2011. By 2021, the daily waste will amount to 1200tones. The waste to electricity suggested project in Kirkuk and the choice of electricity generation technology, would lead to improved electricity supply and efficient waste management in the city, and is expected to contribute to technology transfer in this new area. Landfill or Biodigestor technology seems to be the most preferred technology for Kirkuk city to start with. Potential power for a plant sourcing from the MSW mass to be fed into the national grid was estimated at 5MW.Equivalent CO2 emission in the absence of waste to electrical energy project and the emission by proposed project were calculated. The reduction in CO2 emission is 87.4%.

Use of Electronic Information Resources and Research Output by Academic Staff in Private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria

The study examined the use of electronic information resources and research output by academic staff in private universities in Ogun state, Nigeria. Three private universities were selected out of the nine private universities in Ogun state. These universities are Crescent University, Abeokuta, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, and Redeemers’ University, Mowe, all in Ogun State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling method was used to investigate respondents. The instrument used for data collection was structured questionnaire. 225 copies of the questionnaire were administered at Babcock University and 144 were retrieved. 88 at Crescent University and 80 were retrieved, while 215 at the Redeemers’ University and 130 were retrieved. The research looked at the extent with which electronic information resources were used in the private universities in Ogun State, using the three universities as sample. A total of 528 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents at the three universities and a valid number of 354 (66%) questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed. The questionnaire was designed using nominal and likert scales. The study revealed that most of the academic staff from the three private universities knew and used electronic information resources for their research work as shown on Tables 5, 6, 7 and 8. Findings from Tables 8 and 9 indicate that most of respondents from the three private universities have published their articles and presented papers with the use of electronic information resources. The study also revealed on Table 6 that effective use of electronic information resources contribute to the academics’ research output hence 329 (92.9%) of the total respondents supported that view. It is imperative to state here that lack of personal computer and erratic power supply among others are major constraints that inhibit use of electronic information resources in the three private universities which invariably affects their research output. The researchers recommended that private universities in Nigeria expedite action in the area of improving access to electronic information resources through provision of subsidized computers and improved electricity supply in their various universities. Moreso, academic staff are advised to acquire computer skills, learn and relearn to navigate and utilize the vast available electronic information resources on the internet to achieve better research output. Key words: Electronic information resources; Research output; Academics; Information access; Information skill; ICT; Electronic journal; Private university; Ogun state

Challenges of E-Learing in Nigerian University Education Based on the Experience of Developed Countries

This paper present a review of the challenges of e-learning in Nigerian University education based on the experience of four developed countries, UK, Australia, Korea and France. The survey shows that these countries have: (i) vision and action plans for e-learning, (ii) they have good government policies and financial support, (iii) they earmark action programs and set committees with sufficient funds to pursue it goals, (iv) they believe in research as a fundamental part of e-learning strategy, and lastly (v) they embark on awareness, training and motivational programs. The paper pointed out that, for the challenges of Nigerian university education to be reduced to minimum, the Federal Government should improve on educational funding as UNESCO recommended 26% of the annual budget. In addition the government should fulfill her promise on the issue of improving Electricity supply in the country. Furthermore, the university administrators should embark on awareness and training of staff on the use of ICTs, with motivations attached. The Internet is a major driver of ICT in education and bandwidth is a major issue in the deployment of e-learning. Therefore government should make Internet connectivity a priority for higher education to be able to leverage on the promises and opportunities ICTs present.

The forbidden fuel: Charcoal, urban woodfuel demand and supply dynamics, community forest management and woodfuel policy in Malawi

This article examines woodfuel policy challenges and opportunities in Malawi two decades after woodfuel-crisis narratives and counter-narratives. A nuanced examination of woodfuel supply, demand, use, and markets illuminated options to turn stagnant policies based on charcoal ‘bans’ and fuel-substitution into proactive, realistic ones acknowledging woodfuel dominance and its socio-economic importance. Findings revealed growing, spatially differentiated woodfuel deficits in southern and central Malawi and around Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe cities. Poverty, limited electricity access, reliability and generation exacerbated by tariff subsidies, and complex fuel-allocation decisions restricted energy-ladder transitions from woodfuels to electricity, producing an enduring urban-energy mix dominated by charcoal, thereby increasing wood consumption. Diverse socio-political interests prevented lifting of the charcoal ‘ban’ despite progressive forest laws. Despite implementation challenges, lessons already learnt, efficiency and poverty-reduction arguments, limited government capacity, growing illegal production of charcoal in forest reserves, and its staying power, make targeted community-based forest management (CBFM) approaches more practical for regulated, commercial production of woodfuels than the status quo. New differentiated policies should include commercial woodfuel production and licensing for revenue and ecological sustainability under CBFM or concessions within and outside selected reserves, an enterprise-based approaches for poverty reduction, smallholder/private tree-growing, woodfuel-energy conserving technologies, improved electricity supply and agricultural productivity.

Electric Energy Supply in Nigeria, Decentralized Energy Approach

An analysis of Nigeria’s electricity supply problems and prospectsfound that the electricity demand in Nigeria far outstrips the supply,which is epileptic in nature. The acute electricity supply hinders thecountry’s development, notwithstanding the availability of vast naturalresources in the country. Nigeria is endowed with abundant renewableenergy resources, the significant ones being solar energy, biomass, wind,small and large hydropower with the potential for hydrogen fuel, geo-thermal and ocean energies. Decentralized energy is the production ofelectricity at or near the point of use, irrespective of size, fuel or technol-ogy. The adoption of renewable energy technologies in a decentralizedenergy manner, especially for rural communities and in stand-aloneapplications, will improve electricity supply and enhance the overalleconomic development.

Electric Energy Supply in Nigeria, Decentralized Energy Approach

ABSTRACT An analysis of Nigeria's electricity supply problems and prospects found that the electricity demand in Nigeria far outstrips the supply, which is epileptic in nature. The acute electricity supply hinders the country's development, notwithstanding the availability of vast natural resources in the country. Nigeria is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources, the significant ones being solar energy, biomass, small and large hydropower with the potential for hydrogen fuel, geothermal and ocean energies. Decentralized energy is the production of electricity at or near the point of use, irrespective of size, fuel or technology. The adoption of renewable energy technologies in a decentralized energy manner, especially for rural communities and in stand-alone applications, will improve electricity supply and enhance the overall economic development.

United Republic of Tanzania: Second Review Under the Policy Support Instrument: Staff Report; Staff Statement; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Tanzania

Fueled by a rebound in agriculture and improved electricity supply, economic growth reached 6.7 percent in 2006–07, and is on track to exceed 7 percent in 2007–08. In mid-2007, significant portfolio capital inflows put pressure on liquidity management. In the first quarter of 2007–08, fiscal performance was strong, but inflationary pressures intensified. After continuing to depreciate in most of 2007, the exchange rate recently reversed course. Strengthening monetary control is the key to reducing inflationary pressures and reining in high and volatile T-bill rates.

Nuclear Energy between Past and Future. An Assessment Based on the Concept of Risk

The objective of this article is to carry out an assessment of nuclear energy in the context of energy policy. Its background is the so called “nuclear revival” expected by some decision-makers. In particular, we discuss the role that this form of energy can play to improve electricity supply security. Our assessment is based on the concept of risk. We identify the main risks provoked by nuclear energy and we present the problems related to their management. We take into consideration the risks related to the environment, health, technology, economics, society and policy. We show that nuclear energy can contribute to guarantee the electricity supply in the XXI century. However, we stress that this technology brings about major risks. It represents an “unfortunate necessity” and should be considered as a transitional technology, waiting for the development of renewable energy and the implementation of less energy intensive lifestyles.

Energy efficiency: economic constraints to environmental quality

Energy use is often seen as an area where the sustainable use of resources is low, and sustainability improvements advocated. This article demonstrates that for electricity supply, consumers' value for avoiding supply interruptions means that excess supply over actual use is optimal. It reviews stated preference studies that have measured consumers' value for improving electricity supply and suggests reasons why estimates of value vary between studies.