An Evaluation of Alternative Energy Resources in Nigeria

An Evaluation of Alternative Energy Resources in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The study was prompted by our curiosity to investigate the extent energy policy in the country is directed towards the exploitation of the alternate options in renewable energy resources. Specifically, We examined a relevant federal agency in our locality, the National Centre for Energy Research and Development (NCERD), University of Nigeria Nsukka, which was established with the above implied objective in mind.

In the study, we attempted to determine whether the agency has developed a renewable sourced electricity generation power from its alternate energy research and equally attempted to determine how far the immediate neighborhood of the agency has utilized the services accruing from its research activities in order to see if the supposed benefits could be broadened for national benefits.

Our study identified the development of Solar PV (solar electricity) with the internal research of the Centre. On the other hand, however, we found that the immediate host community of the Centre is not yet substantially benefiting from the Centre’s products as it concerns electrical services sourced from alternative/renewable energy resources.

To accomplish the above set goals in the study we conducted two separate opinion surveys targeting the appropriate publics respectively and generated requisite data from combined data gathering methods which analysis resolved both of the research questions and the hypotheses.

INTRODUCTION

The persistent energy inadequacy in Nigeria has assumed a deleterious factor on socio-economic life of Nigerians and efforts at advancing models for achieving cost effective and efficient energy utilization in the country has dodged too many a government.

The Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration at its inception made cardinal pronouncements, promising to declare a state of emergency on the energy crises as it concerns electricity. The importance of a declarative policy statement on electricity could not be timelier. Under supplied electricity energy is a foremost factor militating

Against the nation’s economic growth. The country’s quest, for instance, towards enlistment among the world’s top 20 economic powers by the year 2020 would turn up as a mirage unless a fundamental policy is designed and implemented for the nation’s energy, more so with electricity.

Taking cognizance of the above, one would have anticipated an expedited affirmative action on the part of government on this energy emergency, instead, after two years into this administration; Nigerians are still awaiting concrete actions with respect to the energy policy.

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StudentsandScholarship Team.