ABSTRACT

Nigeria, potentially, has abundant sunshine throughout the year, making it full thirst for solar energy generation. Even though, the country’s solar energy projects have not realized a fair result over the years, due to many barriers associated with initiatives implementation. Therefore, the entire power sector remains incapacitated to generate, transmit and distribute a clean, affordable and sustainable energy to assist economic growth. The research integrated five African counterpart’s solar energy initiatives, barriers, policies and strategies adopted as a lesson learned to Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction
• Background of the project
• Problem statement
• Aim and objective of the project
• Scope and limitation of the project
• Significance of the study
• Research questions
• Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

2.0      LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1      Review of renewable energy
2.3     The regulatory framework for renewable projects in Nigeria

2.3     Renewable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa

2.4    Barriers to Policy Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa

2.5    Barriers to Renewable energy policy in Nigerian

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     METHODOLOGY

3.1      Introduction
3.2      Scope of policy document
3.3      Initial scoping meeting
3.4      Reviewing the legislative mandated of each MDA
3.5      Clarifying the role of the lead agency

• Research existing RE, EE and power-related policies, programs and strategies
• Dialog between key MDAs and key industry stakeholders
• Establishing a common platform for all stakeholders
• Develop a preliminary policy document to help focus key stakeholder
• Empanel an interagency review committee
• Convene a one-day stakeholder event to garner formal buy-in
• Presentation of final document to the president and federal executive

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0   RESULT

4.1   Major components of Nigeria’s renewable energy policy

4.2  Harnessing renewable energy sources: policy, objectives and strategies

4.3  Renewable energy utilization and supply

4.4  Renewable energy financing

• Energy efficiency: policies, objectives and strategies

4.6  Unique insights from the policy development process

4.7  Government preparedness and policy development

4.8  Stakeholder engagement process

4.9  Policy finalization

4.10     Additional and specific barriers that May apply to other SSA countries

CHAPTER FIVE

• Conclusions and recommendations

References

 Chapter one

1.0                                                             Introduction

1.1                                                 Background of the study

Nigeria is blessed with the abundance of solar radiation throughout the year. However, according to Emodi (2015) only the exact utilisable solar resource base, formerly available in the state is unknown despite the huge financial commitment towards ensuring sustainable electricity in the country. They further added that Nigeria lacks the proper equipment and infrastructure to conduct solar radiation measurement. At the moment, Nigeria operates about thirty (30) measuring stations which are managed by the Nigerian

Solar energy contributes a tiny fraction of power generation in Nigeria, although, the country receives maximum sunlight exposure, potential for solar PV. Nigeria is in the solar belt, which heightens its solar potential but sadly, the opportunities for harnessing the renewable energies remained narrow and unpractical compare to the conventional electricity (Sambo et al, 2012).

Traditionally, solar energy in the country has predominantly been used for various activities by employing the open to the sun method, mostly in the rural communities. Solar electricity generation, on the other hand, emerged approximately two decades ago and it has seen a steady growth (Osinowo et al, 2015). The primary drivers for the solar power uptake in the country are attributed to research centres and energy institutions, initiatives apart from the huge electricity production deficits. Besides the learning and research institutions, government and international agencies’ activities have led to the development of the largest solar-PV plants across the country (Ohunakin et al, 2014). The major aims for the various solar electricity generation initiatives include the enhancement of water supply and the maintenance of clinics and healthcare facilities in the rural areas (Oseni et al, 2012).

According Sambo et al (2012), an average sunshine of up to 9 hours per day, equivalent to 5.5 kWhm-2 days-1 degrees of solar radiation are seen almost throughout the year. The availability of massive radiations combined with the developments in the photovoltaic technologies makes it clear that huge amounts of electricity can be generated and utilised to combat the country’s electricity crises that has become an obstacle to economic development (Amankwah et al, 2015). Amankwah et al (2015) argued that the solar PV prices have been in steady decline in the recent years, dropping to approximately 50% compared to when it was first introduced years ago. This phenomenon was attributed to ramping up of solar PV productions in China and the technological breakthroughs experienced in the field (Osinowo et al, 2015).

Given the large amounts of incident radiation, installing solar panels on at least one percent of the country’s geography can easily generate enough electricity to outdo the amount currently produced in the country (Ozoegwu et al, 2017). Annually, the state receives up to 115, 000 times its total energy production through solar energy. This fact highlights the immense amount of energy which the country can benefit from the solar energy, bearing in mind that currently, solar energy contributes less than one percent of the total power generation  (Ozoegwu et al, 2017)

Solar energy is the most stable and reliable source of energy that can be harnessed for the benefit of domestic and commercial purposes (Ozoegwu et al, 2017). They further argued that, in line with the objectives of cutting down global warming through limiting the use of carbon fossils, solar energy has emerged to be a strategic component for achieving the sustainable development goals. Not only it is environmentally friendly, but it is also free and available in Nigeria. Electricity is not only produced cheaply, but also environmentally friendly (Ozoegwu et al, 2017).

1.2      Problem Statement

Nigeria has 12,500 megawatts of installed generation capacity, being largely dependent on natural gas, at 87.5 per cent of the on-grid energy supply mix (Ozoegwu et al, 2017). This position is rather unsurprising given the nation’s vast gas resources and the relative cost-efficiency of gas-fired power generation. Due to perennial challenges with grid infrastructure and other well-documented constraints to reliable power supply, a large proportion of the economy is reliant on off-grid, captive energy generation, which is for the most part, powered by petrol and diesel.

As the harmful effects of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions become clearer and the need for sustainable development takes on a more central role in the global energy conversation, there seem to be a consensus among key players across the world that it is imperative to shift focus towards renewable energy (and other clean energy sources) to drive economic growth, not least in developing countries such as Nigeria, where the need for investment is greatest.

This global paradigm shift, along with various policy initiatives by governments to incentivize renewable energy development and financing has led to an unprecedented growth in renewable energy (especially solar and wind) projects in many countries. Even for a country like Nigeria, where renewable energy has always featured in the energy mix (hydropower accounts for about 12.5 per cent of its on-grid energy), the current trend provides an opportunity to promote and attract sustainable investment in its energy sector.

1.3      Aim and Objectives Of The Study

Aim

The main aim of this work is to highlight the legal and regulatory framework for renewable energy in Nigeria, key government policies to stimulate the development of renewable energy, and notable developments in the market, whilst highlighting some challenges and opportunities.

Objectives

1. Examine Nigeria’s energy profile
2. Analyze barriers to sustainable energy development in
3. Recommend some policy actions to expedite the development of sustainable energy systems in order to guaranty a secured energy future for Nigeria.
4. To highlight renewable energy policies and barriers in Nigeria.

1.4   Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this work covers the impact of policies on the solar energy generation in Nigeria. It also analyzes the barriers to sustainable energy development in Nigeria, as well as the role of public policies in sustainable energy development using a combination of empirical and exploratory research methods. It focuses on the role of stakeholders in influencing new policy formulation and policy change, as well as the role of policy intervention in achieving progress in sustainability.

It  highlights the possible contribution of policies and their role in ensuring a secured sustainable energy future for Nigeria in connection with three major energy sustainability dimensions: energy security (in terms of the ability of supplies to meet current and future demand, reliability of energy infrastructures, as well as effective management of energy supply); energy equity (in terms of accessible and affordable energy supply across the population); and environmental sustainability (in terms of developing energy supply from low carbon sources, as well as achieving supply and demand side efficiencies).

1.5  Significance of the Study

This study will serve as means of studying the cause of scarcity of energy resources and rising energy prices due primarily to a world of increasing demand, energy security which occurs both for private and public sector alike. At the same time, it shows how energy policies have been shifting and policy changes have become hard to predict because of radical changes in energy supply. The study will also serve as an eye opener that will make the reader to understand how renewable energy has affected the growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to challenges in electricity and oil production.

1.6      Research questions

1. What are the challenges of renewable energy in Nigeria?
2. What are the 3 main challenges faced by renewable energy?

iii. What are the barriers to the development of renewable energy in Nigeria?

1. What are the barriers to renewable energy?
2. What are renewable energy policies?
3. What policies should be implemented to encourage the use of renewable energy resources?

1.7 Definition of terms

Renewable energy: Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

Policies: Policy is a deliberate system of guidelines to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an organization.

Barriers: obstacle that prevents the access of renewable energy