Energy it is an essential
ingredient for socio-economic
development and economic
growth. The objective of
the energy system is to provide
energy services. Energy
services are the desired and
useful products, processes or
indeed services that result
from the use of energy, such
as for lighting, provision of
air-conditioned indoor climate,
refrigerated storage, transportation,
appropriate temperatures for cooking etc. The
energy chain to deliver these cited services begins with the
collection or extraction of primary energy, which is then
converted into energy carriers suitable for various end-uses.
These energy carriers are used in energy end-use technologies
to provide the desired energy services .
From the foregoing, it is clear that energy is an essential
input to all aspects of modern life. It is indeed the lifewire of
industrial production, the fuel for transportation as well as for
the generation of electricity in conventional thermal power
plants. The situation was such that nations were complacent
with the oil dominated scenarios of the 1950s and 1960s
during which time regular and reasonably cheap supplies
were available. However, oil producing countries caused a
world-wide reaction by deciding to increase the prices of
crude oil in the early seventies. Of course, the oil-rich countries
like Nigeria recorded tremendous economic gains. On
the other-hand, those developing nations that did not have oil
were subjected to serious economic problems as they suddenly
found themselves utilising, in some cases, up to 50% of
their foreign exchange earnings for importing petroleum products
or crude oil in order to sustain their oil-based industries
and public utilities .
Currently a high proportion of the world's total energy
output is generated from fossil fuels such as oil and coal. In
general, the quest for an option to conventional power
schemes for extension to remote and rural locations of developing
countries like Nigeria arises from the high costs associated
with the extensions, as well as the maintenance, of the
power grid system to rural areas. The costs of grid extensions
will vary widely from country to country and will be heavily
dependent on the system used, the length of connection required,
the type of topography, the usage pattern and the load
the supply point (Charters, 1985). More specifically,
the close relationship between
the proximity of energy
resources to the potential
users coupled with the high
cost of conventional energy
sources have led to a considerable
interest in the development
and application of
renewable energy resources.
Although research and development
activities are still
being seriously undertaken in
various aspects of renewable
energy utilisations, a number
of the technologies have since been shown to be feasible and
ready, for adoption into the economy. These technologies are
very suitable for the rural areas of Nigeria .
It is now universally accepted that fossil fuels are finite
and it is only a matter of time before their reserves become
exhausted. Estimates of reserves of fossil fuels all reach the
same conclusion. Extended use of these reserves, worldwide,
in the current manner will continue for no more than some
decades to come. The need for supplementary or even alternatives
that ideally will be non- depletable energy sources
have since been recognised. These non-depletable sources
are replenishable and are also referred to as renewable energy
sources as they are available in cyclic or periodic basis.
These include: Solar energy which has an estimated worldwide
average power potentials of 24W per square metre of
the earth's surface (assuming 10% efficiency); hydropower,
major sources of which are still underdeveloped, has an estimated
potential of the range 2-3TW with an annual output of
10,000-20,000TWh but is only available in certain areas of
the world; also available in limited areas of the world are
wind energy and biomass (Considine, 1977).
The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the role of
renewable energy for the rural development of Nigeria. The
paper will review the current level of the use of renewable
energy systems and thereafter put forward necessary policy
measures that are essential in order to promote the use of the
technologies. Section 2 of the article will look at some major
energy issues in Nigeria. Sections 3; 4; 5; and 6 will respectively
focus on renewable energy resource availability in
Nigeria; renewable energy for rural development; applications
of renewable energy in Nigeria; necessary measures for
promotion of renewable energy.
