Energy In Nigeria Research Articles

Enabling modern bioenergy deployment in Nigeria to support industry and local communities

Nigeria intends to rank among the top 20 global economies by 2030 by focusing on industrialisation. However, limiting energy access may slow the rate of industrialisation. Bioenergy integration into Nigeria's energy mix can accelerate the industrialisation agenda due to the co-benefits it offers. We used a disaggregated approach to map agri-residue availability and identify knowledge gaps in agri-residue application to support modern and sustainable bioenergy integration into Nigeria's energy mix. Expert interviews with stakeholders from government departments, small- and large-scale industries, and feedstock producers were used to validate the biomass mapping. The output of the biomass mapping shows that residues from yam, sorghum, wheat, palm, cassava, rice, sugarcane, etc, have knowledge gaps in agri-residue application and they could support the industrialisation agenda of Nigeria. The output of the stakeholder engagement shows that fossil fuels are the main energy source for productive uses in Nigeria. Current waste management practices involve onsite burning and disposal on land. Bioenergy technologies currently deployed in Nigeria are predominantly anaerobic digestion and combustion. Stakeholders have a strong preference for electricity to be the predominant energy vector. However, awareness of modern bioenergy applications and technologies was limited even though Nigeria's Energy Masterplan supports the efficient use of biomass to generate clean heat, electricity and biofuel for industrial, transport and household applications. Based on these findings, we have developed a suite of novel bioenergy case studies to support biomass integration into Nigeria's energy system.

DOES ESG INVESTMENT IMPACT THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF NIGERIAN ENERGY COMPANIES: A PANEL REGRESSION APPROACH?

The destruction of around 5% to 10% of Nigerian mangrove ecosystems and the disappearance of approximately 7,400 square kilometres of rainforest have shifted managerial priorities in Nigeria's energy sector from purely financial gain to increased social responsibility. The rising concerns regarding climate change, environmental risks, social well-being, and sustainability have propelled ESG investment to the forefront of corporate sustainability considerations. The study delves into the influence of ESG investment on the financial sustainability of listed industry players in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. By utilizing quantitative data from sustainability and corporate annual reports of listed firms on the Nigeria Exchange Group from 2013 to 2023, a fixed pooled panel regression model was conducted to statistically test the three hypotheses anchored on the ESG nexus on financial sustainability. The findings indicate that the relationship between environmental investments, measured by environmental emissions, and return on assets (ROA) for the examined listed entities is insignificant. However, the research establishes a notable correlation between social investing practices, quantified by workforce size, and ROA, displaying a positive coefficient. Moreover, the study does not confirm a substantial impact of governance investing practices, measured by board size, on the ROA of the scrutinized corporations. The research acknowledged the impact of ESG on the financial sustainability of Nigeria’s energy sector. The research recommendations include integrating ESG factors into investment strategies, enhancing disclosure and transparency, improving risk management and resilience measures, and collaborating with policymakers.

Advancing Nigeria's Energy and Environmental Policy: The Urgency For Sustainable and Renewable Energy Solutions

Advancing Nigeria's Energy and Environmental Policy: The Urgency For Sustainable and Renewable Energy Solutions

Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria's Renewable Energy Policy and Legislation

Endowed with abundant renewable energy resources, Nigeria stands at a pivotal point in its energy development journey. This study explores the landscape of renewable energy policy and legislation in Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that shape the sector. The research begins with an overview of Nigeria's current energy framework, emphasizing the critical role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development. It examines existing policies and legislative frameworks, identifying the key government agencies responsible and outlining their respective functions. Despite the country's vast potential, numerous barriers impede the growth of renewable energy. These include legal and regulatory inconsistencies, institutional inefficiencies, financial constraints, and technical challenges. The study delves into these issues, providing a comprehensive analysis of how they hinder progress in renewable energy adoption. Conversely, the research identifies significant opportunities to enhance renewable energy policy and legislation including potential legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, financial incentives, and the promotion of technological innovation and infrastructure development. By leveraging these opportunities, Nigeria can create a more robust and conducive environment for renewable energy growth. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to bridge the existing gaps and foster a sustainable energy future for Nigeria. It also outlines future research directions aimed at optimizing renewable energy policies and practices. Through this comprehensive analysis, the study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on renewable energy in Nigeria, providing insights to guide effective policy-making and legislative action.

Energy Mix for Energy Transition: Role of Renewable Energy in Nigeria

Given Nigeria’s commitment to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, this study presents an optimal energy mix for attaining Nigeria’s energy transition goals. The results of the threshold analysis methodology showed that Nigeria’s energy mix has a threshold level of 1.3397 per cent, below which an increase in renewable energy production will result in a significant increase in carbon emissions. Given the current high cost of adopting renewable energy sources, transition fuels such as natural gas and LNG could be utilized. Furthermore, joint efforts between monetary and fiscal authorities are needed to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

Energy Efficiency: The Market for Energy Management Systems in Nigeria

Energy efficiency and demand side management (EEDSM) are critical components of sustainable energy strategies globally. In Nigeria, implementing these practices is crucial to address the growing energy demand, enhance energy security, and mitigate environmental impacts. This paper explores Nigeria's Energy Management Systems (EMS) market, highlighting the current state of energy efficiency and demand side management initiatives, market drivers, barriers, and future prospects. The study emphasises the importance of EMS in optimising energy use and underscores the urgent need for policy recommendations. The analysis shows that despite significant challenges, there are substantial opportunities for growth in the EMS market, driven by the industrial, commercial, and public sectors. However, these opportunities can only be fully realised with the right policy support, underlining the necessity of immediate action in this area and making the audience feel the situation's urgency.

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Addressing Regulatory Ambiguities and Policy Imperatives in Nigeria's Energy Transition

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Addressing Regulatory Ambiguities and Policy Imperatives in Nigeria's Energy Transition

Evaluation of Nigeria’s Energy Policy on Biomass Utilization

Biomass energy, employed for centuries as a fuel in developing nations, stands as the longest-standing energy source still actively employed by humans today. Nigeria has an abundance of different biomass energy sources, with many of them remaining untapped and undeveloped across various levels. Despite its widespread availability throughout the nation, policies aimed at enhancing its utilization have received limited attention. Several obstacles hindering Nigeria's adoption of biomass energy need to be eliminated for it to develop to reach the levels observed in some developed nations. This paper examined empirical studies to assess the factors that shape the Nigerian biomass energy adoption and policies. The study explored a total of 16 articles on biomass utilization and summative content analysis was used to analyze them. The results indicate that political, economic, and technological factors have influenced Nigeria's biomass energy adoption and policy. This calls for a need to address these multifaceted challenges to promote the sustainable use of biomass as an energy source. This aligns with the seventh goal of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing affordable and clean energy.

Electrification through Renewable Energy in Nigeria an Exploration of Viable Technology Options Beyond Solar PV

Nigeria has an electrification rate of 54%, with many of those who are connected to the grid experience severe power outages. The Energy Commission of Nigeria intends to address this challenge with the use of renewable technologies. This paper explores the viability of solar PV, biofuel, wind, and small-scale hydro as renewable energy options for electrifying Nigeria. I find that solar PV, biofuel and small-scale hydro show exciting potential in Nigeria, while wind energy has much less potential due to low wind speeds in the country. Ultimately, renewable technologies need to be considered based on the community in question, instead of attempts at a one-size-fits-all approach to electrifying every community in the country. However, hybrid systems combining various renewable technologies might just be the ideal solution to electrifying rural communities and getting the electrification rate in Nigeria to a hundred percent.

Creativity and Opportunity Findings; Solving Nigeria's Energy Crisis

Creativity and Opportunity Findings; Solving Nigeria's Energy Crisis

Integrating Human-Computer Interactions in Nigerian Energy System: A Skills Requirement Analysis

The energy sector constitutes an important contributor to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy. Despite Nigeria's abundant energy resources, the sector faces multiple challenges, such as infrastructural deficits, policy inconsistencies, regulatory uncertainties, and overreliance on non-renewable energy sources. Industry 4.0 technologies and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) present opportunities that address the challenges of the energy sector in Nigeria. This research explores the impact of HCI in the adoption of technologies of 4IR (Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Big Data, and Cloud Computing), in Nigeria's energy sector. The research assesses the current level of implementation of Industry 4.0, requirements for the implementation of Industry 4.0 technology, demand, and skills for HCI in the implementation of 4IR technology in Nigeria's energy generation sub-sector. This study adopted a comprehensive and critical systematic review of existing literature on the subject matter. The findings reveal the level of 4IR implementation in its infancy, with some energy companies and start-ups beginning to integrate digital technologies to enhance their operations and services. The study further revealed the potential of HCI in facilitating the integration and social acceptance of 4IR technologies and identified significant skills demand for HCI, such as digital literacy, data analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving, and system thinking to facilitate the adoption of 4IR. The research concludes that the development of HCI skills in the adoption of 4IR presents a great opportunity to transform the energy sector in Nigeria. The research recommends policy formulation, to embrace Industry 4.0 and multifaceted process development of HCI skills for the application of 4IR in the energy sector.

HR’S ROLE IN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE WITHIN NIGERIA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR: A REVIEW

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Nigeria's renewable energy sector, the role of Human Resources (HR) in driving and managing organizational change is paramount. This systematic review aims to elucidate the specific functions and strategies employed by HR professionals in facilitating such transitions within the sector. Drawing from a comprehensive analysis of empirical studies, industry reports, and case studies, several key insights emerge. Firstly, HR's proactive involvement in strategic planning and decision-making is crucial in anticipating and addressing potential challenges. Secondly, continuous training and development programs are instrumental in equipping employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to technological and regulatory shifts. Moreover, HR's role in fostering a culture of innovation and resilience cannot be understated, as it directly influences employee morale and retention during periods of change. In conclusion, HR plays a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless integration of change initiatives within Nigeria's renewable energy sector. Their strategic involvement, capacity-building efforts, and emphasis on organizational culture are vital components in navigating the complexities of the industry's transformation.
 Keywords: Human Resources (HR), Organizational Change, Renewable Energy Sector, Nigeria, Strategic Positioning, Change Management, Workforce Alignment, Capacity Building, Training and Development, Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Resistance Mitigation, Impact Evaluation, Continuous Improvement, Socio-economic Impact, Sustainability Goals, Innovation, Agile Organizations, Strategic Importance, Sectoral Growth.

Thermo-economic comparative analysis of a simple and cascaded organic Rankine power plants fired by rice husks

The application of organic working fluids in the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) has been demonstrated to be an attractive option for shifted integrated power and heat production. The procedure allows for the implementation of low-temperature heat sources, which provides advantages in small-scale uses. This study models the organic Rankine cycle for use with rice husk waste from a typical agricultural farm. The comparative analysis of agro-fired simple and cascaded organic Rankine power plants. Toluene and R245fa were considered as the working fluids for both simple and cascaded ORCs. Basic thermodynamic and economic governing equations were utilized in the analyses and embedded in the Engineering Equation Solver. The net powers, energy, exergy, and economic analyses of the two ORCs form the basis for comparison. Afterward, sensitivity analysis was carried out to ascertain the effects of variability of pertinent parameters on the plants. Results revealed that the net power output, thermal and exergy efficiencies of the simple and cascade ORC plants were 1.154 MW, 15.53% and 20.38%, and 1.599 MW, 21.51%, and 28.23%, respectively. The largest exergy destruction rate was obtained in the combustion chamber (1531 kW), and the least exergy destruction was recorded in the recirculation working fluid pump (1.073 kW). The simple ORC showed better economic performance as reflected in the unit cost of energy of 35.11 N/kWh as against 37.68 N/kWh of the cascaded ORC. The proposed energy system has the potential for a viable business enterprise based on the favorable Federal Government of Nigeria's fiscal and energy policies.

The impact of educational attainment on the transition from nonrenewable to renewable energy use in Nigeria

This paper examines the role of education in promoting renewable energy in Nigeria based on data from 1990 to 2021 using FMOLS second-generation cointegration to estimate two proxies of renewable energy. It also examines how economic growth spurs education as a driver of energy transition and tests the energy mix hypothesis in Nigeria by employing real economic growth and the import of fossil fuels as controllable variables in a model with four education indicators. The results showed that education is vital to Nigeria's renewable energy goals. In contrast to existing studies, the study established that all types of education encourage the move from nonrenewable to renewable energy consumption in Nigeria. However, technical and university education are the most crucial in Nigeria's drive toward the adoption of renewable energy, which implies that Nigeria's energy transformation may require more than general knowledge. The paper also established that to mitigate the influence of Nigeria's low economic growth on its energy transition, a minimum critical level of at least 7% of the per capita income and 7%–9% of higher technical education must be attained consistently. The paper concludes that purchasing power measured by economic growth is more important than education for Nigeria's energy shift. However, education can mitigate the detrimental effects of economic growth on energy transition potential. Therefore, policy to promote energy transition with technical educational development and economic empowerment is needed to achieve Nigeria's energy transformation goal.

Balancing the scales: Does public debt and energy poverty mitigate or exacerbate ecological distortions in Nigeria?

AbstractAmid Nigeria's economic growth and energy challenges, the escalating public debt (PB) levels and persistent energy poverty (EP) raise critical questions about their potential impacts on the environment. Given the potential conflict among economic development, EP alleviation and ecological conservation, it becomes pertinent to understand whether increased PB and efforts to address EP inadvertently contribute to or alleviate ecological imbalances within the country. Hence, this research investigates the effect of PB and EP on the load capacity factor (LCF) in Nigeria. Using the STIRPAT model and annual data from 1990 to 2021, the study explores the relationships among total PB, EP, gross domestic product per capita, urbanization and LCF. Descriptive analysis, correlation assessments and unit‐root tests precede the data analysis conducted with the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and dynamic ARDL (DARDL) technique. Key findings reveal significant negative effects of urbanization and EP on LCF. Additionally, the ARDL and DARDL procedure highlights a positive long‐term relationship between PB and LCF. Both ARDL and DARDL analyses show a negative short‐term relationship between GDP growth per capita and LCF, signalling the need for sustainable economic practices. The study concludes with policy recommendations that aim to promote sustainable development and address ecological imbalances by tackling EP and PB challenges in Nigeria.

Unlocking renewables amid rentierism: Market constraints to Nigeria's energy transition

Tackling climate change requires a rapid transition to renewable energy (RE). However, resource rents and subsidies present multiple challenges to the energy transition in fossil fuel-rich countries. Here, we analyze the complex but often overlooked constraints to utility-scale RE investment in Nigeria, combining qualitative data from 24 interviews with administrative data from public and private stakeholders. Using the Structure-Conduct-Performance-Regulation (SCPR) framework and the Rentier State Theory (RST), we identify three mutually reinforcing constraints related to stakeholder distrust, a monopolistic wholesale market, and a protracted subsidy regime that impede utility-scale RE investment in Nigeria. Bold policy reforms are needed to promote competition, attract investment, improve the efficiency of the market, and meet the country's clean energy goals.

RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN NIGERIA

The study aimed at examining the effect of renewable energy on quality of the environment in Nigeria from 1980 to 2019. The ARDL bound test of cointegration shows the presence of a cointegration relationship among the analyzed variables. In the long run renewable energy is related negatively with to CO2 emissions, meaning that an increase in renewable energy enhances the quality of the environment by reducing the number of CO2 emissions in the long run while in the short-run renewable energy is positively related to carbon emissions, meaning that increases in the number of renewable energy deteriorate the quality of environment in the short run. The Granger causality test proposed by Toda and Yamamota (1995) reveals that a bidirectional causal relationship exists between renewable energy and the number of CO2 emissions, meaning that changes in renewable energy affect the quality of environment and at the same time changes in the quality of environment affect the renewable energy in Nigeria. Policymakers should implement a multilateral mechanism to ensure energy efficiency and to promote the use of renewable energy.

Bioenergy production from pretreated rice straw in Nigeria: An analysis of novel three-stage anaerobic digestion for hydrogen and methane co-generation

The response to Nigeria's energy inadequacies and waste management issues is projected in this research to be achieved with hydrogen and methane co-produced from pretreated (PT) rice straw (RS) in a three-stage digestion process. This study also demonstrated a novel pretreatment (PTM) agent to improve biological energy recovery from RS. The objectives were accomplished using acidogenic and methanogenic procedures in batch, semi-continuous and continuous systems after pretreating RS with chemical/potash extract (PE) followed by a biological agent. At the same time, the energy assessments were done using data from the laboratory study and the literature. The research findings indicated that at the acidogenesis stage, specific hydrogen yield was insignificant when chemical agents and PE were employed alone. However, the daily H2 production increased when the PT RS residues were enzymatically hydrolysed with NaOH-PT (114 NmL H2 g−1 TS d−1) and PE-PT (103 NmL H2 g−1 TS d−1) RS substrates having the highest values at steady states and raw RS producing the least (30 NmL H2 g−1 TS d−1). In the methanogenesis phase, chemical/ PE PTM followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of RS improved the daily specific methane production by 18%, 31.7% and 41.5% for HCl, PE and NaOH-PT RS residues. The methane production efficiency was 80% for NaOH, 75% for PE, and 68% for HCl RS PT samples, while the raw RS was 48%. The total output energy expressed in electricity and thermal production using combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) showed that NaOH and PE-PT RS digesters gave the highest electricity (892.43 and 852.00 KWhelect. tonne-1 TS) and thermal (1194.10 and 1140 KWhtherm. tonne-1 TS) yield respectively. Similarly, the cooling fluid in KWhcool produced per tonne of TS RS was 835.57, 798.00 and 741.66 for NaOH, PE and HCl PT RS samples. Finally, whereas the Firmicutes, especially the Clostridium, Ruminococcus and Thermoanaerobacterium, were the dominant microbial community in acidogenic digestates, the Euryarchaeota typified by Methanobacterium, Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta were the principal phyla for most methanogenic reactors.

Legal responses to energy security and sustainability in Nigeria's power sector amidst fossil fuel disruptions and low carbon energy transition

Fundamentally, energy could be refer to as the cornerstone for progress of most nations, as a lack of unswerving energy sources perpetuates poverty and impedes economic development. In Nigeria, there exists an abundance of low-carbon energy resources that hold immense potential for fostering sustainable growth. Regrettably, Nigeria has yet to fully harness these resources to drive its economic expansion and bolster its power sector. This study undertakes a thorough exploration of the untapped capacity of low-carbon energy bases in the country, with the aim of ensuring a consistent and dependable electricity supply. The research methodology employed in this study encompasses both empirical and doctrinal legal research approaches, drawing upon a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including authoritative energy law textbooks and peer-reviewed journals. In order to gain valuable insights into achieving a stable electricity supply in Nigeria, a meticulous comparative legal analysis of low-carbon energy practices was conducted, focusing on the experiences of China, Spain, Germany, and Nigeria. By applying legal theories and empirical procedures, the study estimated carbon emissions using the auto-regressive distributed lag model. The data exploited in this study were acquired from the World Bank's World Development Indicator (WDI, 2021), a renowned public domain repository of economic development data encompassing numerous countries worldwide. The findings of this study demystify the positive association between electricity consumption and substantial fluctuations in CO2 emissions, as demonstrated by both short-run and long-run model estimations. Significantly, the presence of hydroelectric power sources emerged as a pivotal factor in curbing carbon emissions.Moreover, the study's error correction model findings unveil a noteworthy mechanism of systemic convergence when confronted with external shocks. To facilitate the adoption of low-carbon energy sources, the study proposes a hybrid model that combines various approaches, while underscoring the urgent need for reforming Nigeria's energy laws to address environmental concerns and promote security and sustainability. The practical implications and policy applications of this research highlight its potential to provide policymakers in Nigeria and beyond with invaluable insights for formulating effective measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions arising from electricity generation and consumption.

THE POTENTIAL, BARRIERS. AND STRATEGIES TO UPSCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY ADOPTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: NIGERIA AS A CASE STUDY

Renewable energy plays a crucial role in sustainable development strategies, especially for developing countries like Nigeria that face energy challenges. This paper explores how deploying renewable energy in Nigeria can contribute to meeting the country's energy needs, drive economic growth, and support to achieve Nigeria’s environmental sustainability goal. As Africa's most populous nation and largest economy, Nigeria depends heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs despite having abundant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. Harnessing renewable energy in Nigeria offers numerous benefits. First, renewable energy offers a pathway to diversify Nigeria's energy sources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and enhancing energy security. Second, deploying renewable energy can stimulate economic growth by attracting investment, fostering local entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities. Third, transitioning to renewable energy sources helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and alleviate environmental issues associated with traditional energy sources. However, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of renewable energy in Nigeria. These challenges include policy and regulatory barriers, limited access to financing, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of technical capacity. Overcoming these obstacles requires a multi-faceted approach, including policy reforms, financial incentives, infrastructure development, capacity building, and fostering public-private partnerships. By drawing insights from successful renewable energy projects and initiatives in other developing countries, Nigeria can develop tailored strategies to effectively harness its renewable energy potential. The application of these strategies offers Nigeria an opportunity to achieve its sustainable development goals, enhance energy access, and promote prosperity. Achieving these goals will also require collaboration from government, industry stakeholders, and civil society. Keywords: Renewable energy, strategy, Developing countries, Nigeria, Case study.