Electricity situation and potential development in Nigeria using off-grid green energy solutions

Abstract

Sustainable supply of electricity is crucial to comfortable living in homes and attaining economic development in any country. Despite being blessed with enormous green and non-green energy resources, Nigeria has been in a quandary about adequate generation and supply of electricity. The electricity crisis has, over the years, had significant adverse impact on the nation’s socio-economic and technological development as well as standard of living of its citizens. This paper examines the problems in the electricity sector and the energy potential of green energy resources in Nigeria. The study reveals that the major source of electricity generation (natural gas) and mode of electricity transmission (a single national grid) in the country have been and are still being constrained by myriad of challenges, hence, the inability of the power sector to satisfy the electricity yearnings of Nigerians till date. The study also reveals that about 1182.375GWh of energy per day could be obtained from green energy resources in Nigeria and the provision of this quantity of energy through decentralized off-grid energy solutions would significantly increase electricity availability as well as accessibility in the country.

Keywords: Electricity availability; Electricity crisis; Green electricity; Off-grid electricity