IDENTIFYING THE MARKET, INSTITUTIONAL

AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES IN NIGERIA

By

Mr. Abdulkareem Ozi Aliyu

abdulozi@yahoo.com

And
Mr. Ja’afaru Yahaya Bawa
jaafarub@yahoo.com

Energy Commission of Nigeria, Abuja

A Paper Presented at the 4th Annual NAEE/IAEE International

Conference on “Green Energy and Energy Security Option for Africa”

28th -29th April, 2011

ABSTRACT
Introduction of renewable energy system is in the implementation program
for Nigeria. The rate of growth of the program can only increase or decrease
within the context of the government interest. Certainly, lack of government
plans and target in this regard has remained a worrisome phenomenon.

There is almost an impossible proper co-ordination and implementation of

renewable energy technologies in Nigeria. The growth of renewable energy
before 2005 was largely dependent on individuals, societies and few
corporate interest and activities.

The resultant effects of all these are the growth in the deployment of
renewable energy in Nigeria may be slow with the technology costs
remaining comparatively high and high percentage of Nigerians not being
aware of the grains of the renewable energy technologies.

The implementation of renewable energy technology in Nigeria faces a lot of

challenges due to economic, social, technical and other barriers. These
barriers have to be overcome if renewable energy technologies are to be
implemented to make significant impact on the energy mix of Nigeria.
Therefore this paper addressed these barriers and suggests how they can be
overcome.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Several energy resources are available in Nigeria in abundant proportion. The non-
renewable energy resources include petroleum, natural gas, coal, tar sands and uranium.
The renewable energy resources include solar radiation, biomass, hydro and wind energy.
There has been supply-demand gap as a result of inadequate development and inefficient
management of the renewable energy sector.

The renewable energy potential in Nigeria has not been fully exploited, mainly due to
limited policy interests and investment level. In addition technical and financial barriers
have contributed to the low levels of uptake of renewable energy technologies in Nigeria.
There are, however, prospects for the widescale development and dissemination of
renewable energy technologies in the region.

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.

The important development that has also increased interest in renewables in Nigeria is the
recurrent crises faced by power utilities. For example, in the year 2007 alone, Nigeria
faced unprecedented power rationing which adversely affected our economies. The rapid
development of renewable is often mentioned as an important response option for
addressing the power problems faced by Nigerians.

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
recognized. These non-depletable sources are replenish able 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.

The purpose of my presentation is to highlight the role of renewable energy technologies,

challenges faced due to the social, technical and other barriers in the implementation of
renewable energy technologies in Nigeria and suggested how these challenges can be
overcome.

2.0 RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE AVAILABILITY IN NIGERIA

For the purpose of this presentation the renewable energy sources that will be considered
are hydro, solar energy, biomass and wind energy.

2.1 HYRO

Essentially, hydropower systems rely on the potential energy difference between the
levels of water in reservoirs, dams or lakes and their discharge tail water levels
downstream. The water turbines which convert the potential energy of water to shaft
rotation are coupled to suitable generators. The hydropower potential of Nigeria is very
high and hydropower currently accounts for about 29% of the total electrical power
supply. The first hydropower supply station in Nigeria is at Kainji on the river Niger
where the installed capacity is 836MW with provisions for expansion to 1156 MW. A
second hydropower station on the Niger is at Jebba with an installed capacity of 540
MW. An estimate for rivers Kaduna, Benue and Cross River (at Shiroro, Makurdi and
Ikom, respectively) indicates their total capacity to stand at about 4,650 MW. Estimates
for the rivers on the Mambila Plateau are put at 2,330MW. The overall hydropower
resource potentially exploitable in Nigeria is in excess of 11,000MW.

The foregoing assessment is for large hydro schemes which have predominantly been the
class of schemes in use prior to the oil crisis of 1973. Since that time, however, many
developed and developing countries have opted for small scale hydropower with
appreciable savings made over the otherwise alternative of crude oil. It should be noted
that hydropower plants that supply electrical energy between the range of 15kW to
15MW are mini-hydro while those supplying below 15kW are normally referred to as
micro-hydro plants. Indeed small-scale (both micro and mini) hydropower systems
possess the advantage, over large hydro systems, that problems of topography are not
excessive. In effect, small hydropower systems can be set up in all parts of the country so
that the potential energy in the large network of rivers can be tapped and converted to
electrical energy. In this way the nation's rural electrification projects can be greatly
enhanced.

Table 2.1.1 Small Hydro Power Utilisation in Some Selected region

Country Harnessed (Small) (MW)

Nigeria 33.0
Uganda* 0.50
Mauritius 6.70
Kenya 6.28
Burundi 5.17
Somalia 4.60
Zambia 4.50
Tanzania 4.00
Lesotho 3.54
Malawi 1.52
Botswana 1.00
Rwanda 1.00
South Africa 0.40
Swaziland 0.30
Mozambique 0.10
• Other stations of total capacity 6.81MW are not operational
Source: ECN report, Karekezi and Turyareeba, 1995; Karekezi and Ranja,

2.2 SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy is the most promising of the renewable energy sources in view of its
apparent limitless potential. The sun radiates its energy at the rate of about 3.8 x 1023 kW
per second. Most of this energy is transmitted radially as electromagnetic radiation which
comes to about 1.5kW/m at the boundary of the atmosphere. After traversing the
atmosphere, a square metre of the earth's surface can receive as much as 1kW of solar
power, averaging to about 0.5 over all hours of daylight.

Studies relevant to the availability of the solar energy resource in Nigeria have fully
indicated its viability for practical use. Although solar radiation intensity appears rather
dilute when compared with the volumetric concentration of energy in fossil fuels, it has
been confirmed that Nigeria receives 5.08 x 1012 kWh of energy per day from the sun
and if solar energy appliances with just 5% efficiency are used to cover only 1% of the
country's surface area then 2.54 x 106 MWh of electrical energy can be obtained from
solar energy. This amount of electrical energy is equivalent to 4.66 million barrels of oil
per day.

Solar energy technologies are divided into two broad groups namely solar-thermal and
solar photovoltaic. In solar thermal applications, solar energy, as electromagnetic waves,
is first converted into heat energy. The heat energy may then be used either directly as
heat, or converted into 'cold', or even into electrical or mechanical energy forms. Typical
such applications are in drying, cooking, heating, distillation, cooling and refrigeration as
well as electricity generation in thermal power plants. In solar photovoltaic applications,
the solar radiation is converted directly into electricity. The most common method of
doing this is through the use of silicon solar cells.

The technique was first observed in 1939. Its development had been closely tied to the
space programme of the western world. The power generating unit is the solar module
which consists of several solar cells electrically linked together on a base plate. On the
whole the major components of a photovoltaic system include the arrays which consist of
the photovoltaic conversion devices, their interconnections and support, power
conditioning equipment that convert the dc to ac and provides regulated outputs of
voltage and current; controller, which automatically manages the operation
of the total system; as well as the optional storage for stand alone (non-grid) systems. In
recent times, the commercial viability of photovoltaic systems have been recognized and
concerted international efforts in research and development have led to increase in
efficiency and reliability as well as reductions in cost.

Table2.2.1: Applications For Solar in Nigeria

S/N SOLAR-PV APPLICATION % BY CAPACITY

O
1. Residential (Mostly lighting) 6.9
2. Village electrification & TV 3.9
3. Office/Commercial lighting & Equipment 3.1
4. Street,Billboard,etc, lighting 1.2
ALL LIGHTING 15.1
5. Industrial 0.4
6. Health centre/clinic 8.7
7. Telecom & Radio 23.6
8. Water pumping 52.2
TOTAL 100

2.3 BIOMASS

Biomass energy refers to the energy of biological systems such as wood and wastes.
Biomass energy is an indirect form of solar energy because it arises due to
photosynthesis. The biomass resources of Nigeria can be identified as wood biomass,
forage grasses and shrubs, residues and wastes (forestry, agricultural, municipal and
industrial) as well as aquatic biomass.

Wood, apart from being a major source of energy in the form of fuel wood is also used
for commercial purposes in various forms as plywood, sawn wood, paper products and
electric poles. For energy purposes, Nigeria is using 80 million cubic metres (43.4 x 109
kg) of fuel wood annually for cooking and other domestic purposes. The energy content
of fuel wood that is being used is 6.0 x 109MJ out of which only between 5 - 12% is the
fraction that is gainfully utilized for cooking and other domestic uses. Although the
biomass availability as at 1973 was put at 9.1 x 1012 MJ, it is expected that the overall
biomass resource availability at present is lower than the 1973 figure. This is largely due
to the demand of wood also for construction and furniture industries in addition to its use
as an energy source. As for forage grasses and shrubs, estimates show that 200 million
tonnes of dry biomass can be obtained from them and this comes up to 2.28
106MJ of energy.

For crop residues and wastes, estimates of the 6.1 million tonnes of dry biomass that are
produced annually leave residues whose energy content approximate to 5.3 x 1011 MJ.
Estimates made in 1985 give the number of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and pigs as well
as poultry birds as 166 million. These produce 227,500 tonnes of animal wastes daily
which come to 2.2 x 109 MJ taking the calorific value of animal dung to be 9,800
MJ/tonne. Animal residue can be converted to biogas and estimates show that this is of
the order of 5.36 x 109 m3 which has an energy content amounting to 2.93 x 109 kWh.

2.4WIND ENERGY

Wind is a natural phenomenon related to the movement of air masses caused primarily by
the differential solar heating of the earth's surface. A seasonal variation in the energy
received from the sun affects the strength and direction of the wind. The ease with which
aeroturbines transform energy in moving air to rotary mechanical energy suggests the use
of electrical devices to convert wind energy to electricity. Wind energy has also been
utilised, for decades, for water pumping as well as for the milling of grains.

A study on the wind energy potentials for a number of Nigerian cities shows that the
annual wind speed ranges from 2.32 m/s for Port Harcourt to a figure of 3.89 m/s for
Sokoto .The maximum extractable power per unit area, for the same two sites was
estimated as 4.51 and 21.97 watts per square metre of blade area, respectively. And when
the duration of wind speeds greater than 3 m/s is considered than the energy per unit area
works out as 168.63 and 1,556.35 kWh per square metre of blade area, again for Port-
Harcourt and Sokoto.

Although use of wind energy for water supply has been known and used for hundreds of
years, in recent times efforts have been directed largely towards the use of wind power
for the generation of electricity and in the past twenty years or so rapid changes in
technology have occurred and major wind powered generating plants have been installed,
especially in the rural areas of the developed countries.

Table2.4.1: Categorization of Wind Power Systems

Installed Categorization Wind Turbine

Power Capacity Range
1. <1kW Micro systems <1kW
2. 1-100kW Wind home systems and 1-50kW
hybrid systems
3. 100kW-10MW Isolated power systems and 100Kw-1MW
decentralized generation
4. >10MW Wind Power Plants >500Kw
Wind farms on-land
5. >100MW Wind Power Plants >2000kW
 Wind farms offshore

Table 2.4.2 Wind Energy Potentials and Number of Wind Pumps for Selected
Countries
Country Potential (m/s) Number of Wind Pumps
Botswana 2-3 200
Nigeria 2-4 10
Burundi >6 1
Djibuti 4 7
Eritrea 3-8 <10
Kenya 3 272
Morocco <10 -
Mozambique 0.7-0.6 50
Namibia - 30,000
Rwanda - -
Seychelles 3.62-6.34 -
South Africa 7.29-9.7 300,000
Sudan 3 12
Tanzania 2.5 100
Uganda 4 7
Zambia 2.5 100
Zimbabwe 3.4 650
Sources: ECN-REMP,2005; Diab,1988; Stassen,1986; Linden,1993; Fraenkel et al, 1993; Kenya Engineering, 1994; IT
Power,1980; Mosimanyane et al, 1995; Sampa,1994; Sawe,1990; Mwandosya and Luhanga, 1983; Turyahikayo,1992;
Razanajatovo et al,1994; Karekezi and Ranja, 1997; Karekezi and Kithyoma, 2002

Table 2.4.3 Nigeria’s Conventional Energy Resources (Chendo, 2001)

Resources Reserve Resource in Energy % Total Conventional

Units (Billion toe) Energy
Crude Oil 23 billion barrels 3.128 21.0
Natural Gas 4293 billion m3 3.679 24.8
Coal & Lignite 2.7 billion tones 1.882 12.7
Tar Sands 31 billion barrels 4.216 28.4
of oil equivalent
Hydropower 10,000MW 1.954(100 years) 13.1
Total 14.859 100

Table 2.3.4 Nigeria’s Non-Conventional Energy Resources (Chendo, 2001)

Resource Reserves Reserves (billion toe)

Fuelwoow 32.3 Million tones 1.6645 (over 100 years)
Animal Wastes & Crop 144 Million tones/year 3.024 (over 100 years)
Residue
Small Scale Hydropower 734.2 MW 0.143 (over 100 years)
Solar Radiation Wind 1.0 kW per m2 land area -
(peak)
Wind 2.0-4.0 m/s -
3.0 STATUS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES READY FOR
ADOPTION IN NIGERIA

A large number of renewable energy devices have been developed by Nigerian

researchers in various parts of the country. These devices which are ready for
incorporation into the economy especially for rural areas include:

• Solar Cookers
These are box-type arrangements where most local dishes can be cooked within one hour
under average sunshine conditions.

• Solar Water Heaters

The heaters which are based on flat-plate collectors with appropriate storage units can
produce water at temperatures of up to 80oC will find applications in hospitals, hotels,
industry and private residences and are capable of significant reduction of electricity
bills.

• Solar Dryers
Both portable cabinet dryers, for individual private use, as well as large-scale units, for
community utilisation, have been developed. The dryers which typically attain
temperatures of up to 60-70°C are suitable for drying a variety of agricultural produce.

• Solar Stills
Solar stills are designed to produce distilled water from brackish water and will be useful
for hospitals, industry and laboratories. When sized appropriately they can provide for the
needs of comprehensive health centres of semi-urban localities.

• Water Pumping
Many workers have demonstrated the use of photovoltaic solar modules for pumping
water from wells and boreholes especially in rural areas for providing the water
requirements of entire communities. Photovoltaic powered pumps can also be employed
for irrigation purposes.

• Storage of Vaccines and Drugs

Photovoltaic power components have also been shown to adequately provide the
electricity for refrigerators and deep freezers in which vaccines and drugs can be safely
stored without loosing their potencies.

• Street Lights and Traffic Controllers

Photovoltaic modules have been used to provide uninterrupted electricity during the day
and night for traffic controllers in city centres. With the use of storage batteries they have
also been shown to power street lights continuously without the power outages
commonly associated with the mains supply.

• Improved Wood-Burning Stoves

Clay-based improved cook stoves, of various designed, have been developed and these
conserve the amount of fuelwood consumed by up to 50%, lead to faster cooking and
with the attachment of chimneys they allow for organised exit of smoke and consequently
reduce smoke inhalation.

• Production of Biogas
With biogas digesters, which are typically constructed from sheet metal or empty drums
and fed with slurries of animal dung they can produce biogas and after 2-3 days. This gas
which has a reasonable content of methane is combustible and can be relied upon for the
production of gas for domestic cooking. It can also be used for powering internal
combustion engines for electricity generation in rural areas.

• Wind for Electricity Generation

In Nigeria, for quite some time, only laboratory trials have been made in the area of using
wind for electricity generation. Such trails have been made with models of three-bladed
aero turbines and the results obtained indicate the potential for stand-alone utilisation
especially in the Sahelian zone as well as the coastal areas of the country. Recently,
however, an increasing number of wind water pumping sets and wind electricity
conversion systems have been installed.

• Electricity from Micro hydro Systems

The generation of electricity from numerous waterfalls and rivers in the form of micro
hydro plants for integration into the national grid as well as for stand-alone utilisations, in
remote locations, is a system that has been shown to be viable.
SOME RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

i) The construction of solar dryers at Sokoto Energy Research Centre with

the capacity of 5-10 kg of drying product for staff, students and investors.

Title: Solar Dryers

� Location: SERC,
Demonstration
Area
� Capacity: 5-10kg of
drying
product
� Cost: 10,000.00
� Year: 2006
� Objective: Research,
Development &
Demo
� Sponsor: SERC
� Beneficiary: Staff,
Students
&
Investors

Solar Still Solar Dryer

ii) The development of a 2-tonne solar rice dryer at Adarice Company, Enugu
and 2-tonne dryer at NAPRI in Zaria.

Title: Parabolic solar Cooker

� Location: SERC
Demonstration Area
� Capacity: Average of 2-3
Persons
� Cost: N47,000:00
� Year: 2006
� Objective: Research,
Development &
Demonstration
� Sponsor: SERC
� Beneficiary: Students,
Staff
& Investors
 Title: Single and Double box
type solar cookers
� Location: SERC, UDUS
� Capacity: Average of 3-5
persons
� Cost: : N5,000:00
� Year; 2006
� Objective: Research,
Development &
Demonstration
� Sponsor: SERC
� Beneficiary: Staff,
Students
& investors

iii) The construction of a solar chicken brooder developed by NCERD Nsukka

vi) The production of family based improved wood burning stoves at SERC.

Title: Single Hole Improved

Wood burning stove
� Location: GGSS,
Argungu, Kebbi State
� Capacity: Average
family
of 15-20 persons
� Year: 2006
� Objective: Cooking
� Sponsor: SERC
� Beneficiary: School
Community

Title: Improved Wood

stoves just constructed
before firing
� Location: Danjawa Village,
Wamakko
LG, Sokoto State
4.0 OVERVIEW OF THE BENEFIT OF SOME RENEWABLE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES IN NIGERIA

- Several benefits are derived from the hydropower technology, among which are:
1. Provision of a basic tool for rural development
2. Very low operation and maintenance costs
3. No fuel costs
4. Kick starting and support for cottage industries
5. Access to remote and often neglected communities
6. Competitive economic and supply advantage over other power systems
 7. Reduction of rural-urban migration
8. General up-liftment of the social structure of a community

- The Solar PV and Solar thermal energy is all benefits as far as environmental
pollution is concerned. They have positive social and economics impact on the
lives of individual uses, communities and the Nation. The impacts they are
currently making and will continue to make toward national development and
poverty alleviation cannot be overemphasized. Photovoltaic systems the
environmental benign. They do not have poisonous gases or pollutants with the
atmosphere and pose little or no threats in climate change and environmental
degradation.

- Biogas technology has the following benefits;

- The production of energy resources that can be stored and used
More efficiently.
- The production of a stabilized residue (the sludge) that retains
the fertilizer value of the original material.
- The saving of the amount of energy required to produce and
Equivalent amount of nitrogen
- Containing fertilizer by synthetic process.
- Potential for partial sterilization of waste during fermentation, with
the consequent reduction of the public hazard of faecal pathogens.
- Reduction, due to the fermentation process, of the transfer of fungal
And other plane pathogens.

- Wood stoves technology has revealed the following benefits.

- Reduction of fuel wood consumption by above 40% over existing
Traditional methods corresponding to the cost of about N 8,000 yearly.
- Time saving by about 32%.
- Reduction in firewood consumption of 30-38% corresponding to cost saving of
N6,000-- N7,500 yearly for the single and double hole stove respectively.
- Guided exist of smoke by the chimney and proper damper setting to serve as a
mechanism for the content of fire intensity.

- The benefits of biomass briquetting include;

- Reduced biomass bulk through densification of the materials, with
resulting in easier and cheaper transportation.
- Increase of the energy content per unit volume of materials by
reducing the moisture content.
- Produce homogeneity obtained (same density particle size and
Moisture content) from highly heterogeneous group of new materials.
- Uniform quality of energy per unit feed stock generally assured.
- Highly cohesive fuel products from particular materials that were otherwise
difficulty to process.
 - Increase resistance to breakdown of particulars in shipping handling and storage.

- Wind energy is one of the lowest priced renewable energy technologies available today,
costing between 4-6cents per kilowatt –hour depending upon the wind resources. The
construction time of wind energy technology is less than other energy technologies, it
uses cost-free fuel, the operation and maintenance cost is very low, and capacity addition
can be in modular form making it adaptable in increasing demand. It enhances
diversification of energy carries for the production of heat fuel and electricity and also
helps in saving fossil fuels for other applications and the future generation.

Wind energy is fueled by the wind thereby making it a clean fuel source, non- polluting,
and making no demands upon the environment beyond the competitively mostly use of
wind fuel.
- A primary benefit of hydrogen energy in Nigeria is its potential for being the energy
of last resorts in the future. The resource is abundant and inexhaustible. When developed,
it wills constable in the nation’s energy security in a post- fossil economy. It is also clean
and will assist in addressing local and global environmental challenges such as global
warming.
- Where the resources exist, geothermal energy is a secure energy source. It is available
24 hours a day all the year round. Geothermal plants have high availability factors.
Geothermal energy is also environmentally benign and releases minimal emissions.
While the running costs of geothermal plants are low, initial cost of well drilling, pipeline
construction, resource analysis of drilling information, design of plant and power plant
construction is high.

5.0 GAPS AND BARRIERS TO SOME RENEWABLE ENERGY

TECHNOLOGIES PENETRATION IN NIGERIA

The major gaps and barriers to market, institutional and financial penetrations of
Renewable energy technologies in Nigeria are as follows.

• High Cost of Renewable Energy System Components

Implementation requires significant initial investment with generally low rate of return
while there is very limited level of consumer awareness on the benefits and opportunities
of renewable energy development. The economic and social system of energy services is
based on centralized development around conventional sources of energy specifically
electricity generation, thus making a level playing field
impossible.Financial,legal,regulatory and organizational barriers need to be overcome in
order to implement the renewable energy projects. There is an absence of a framework
for power purchase agreement between owners of renewable energy technologies and
other users. There has also been a lack of assessment of renewable energy technologies
market potential and structure necessary to harness renewable energy technological
potential.

The market price of renewable energy system components, particularly, the modules of
PV system are currently high. Factory price in 2003 for single and polycrystalline
modules remained at an average of $2.70- 3.25/watt and may even be lower in 2005. In
Nigeria, a 55W module costs about N60, 000 ($444) or $8/wp which is about three times
the factory price. One factor that contributes to the high cost in the high import duty
charged on PV system components. While the duty on electricity appliances and
components is generally around 5%, PV modules attract 15% duty while batteries attract
40% duty. In view of the low purchasing power of greater percentage of population, even
small PV systems (e.g. SHS) are not affordable, particularly to the rural people.

• Inadequate Government Advocacy and Promotion.

Until recently, there was no government policy on energy in general and renewable
energy in particular. The National Energy Policy promulgated in 2003, is yet to be
implemented.

• Inadequate Commercial Activity and Financing Option.

Commercial activity in Renewable energy technologies is still very low. Most of the
activity is concentrated in few cities in the country. Financing mechanisms for the
production or purchase of Renewable energy systems do not exist.

• Inadequate Local Technical Expertise

Capacity building through manpower training and development in Renewable energy

technologies has not been given priority attention. Where quacks design and/or install
systems, failure of such systems discourages market penetration.

• Lack of Regulatory Standards

Because no regulatory standards have been put in place, non-accredited vendor, agents,
distributors, consultants, designers and installers of Renewable energy systems have
penetrated the Renewable energy technology market.
• Low Public Awareness

Despite the interventions of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, the Energy Commission
of Nigeria and Research Centers under it, through workshop, seminars, conferences and
demonstration projects on renewable energy technologies, particularly photovoltaic, there
is still a low level of awareness of the application potentials of Renewable energy
technologies.

• Psychological Inertia

Relatively new technologies like photovoltaic experience initial low market penetration
because potential end users usually posses social inertia that inhibits them from
acquiring new technologies they know have performed reasonably well over time, instead
of taking the risk of acquiring a new technology which, in their view, may not have been
tested or be cost-effective and reliable.

• Political Stability and Issues

Until 1999, the country has suffered political instability and this has discouraged both
foreign and local investment in the economy. Even recent and ongoing religious /
political skirmishes and community agitations, particularly in the oil-producing Niger
Delta Region undermines investment by foreign and local entrepreneurs.
Other gap and barriers include lack of local manufacture of Renewable energy
technology component, low level of government patronage, low sensitivity to
environmental protection, port delays, no tax rebates and the inability of PV system to
carry air- conditioners at affordable price.
 Estimated Percentage of Improved Woodstoves
Dissemination in Sub-Sahara African
2%1% 2%1% 2%
3%

10% Nigeria
Kenya
Burkina Faso
Niger
10%
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Sudan
Uganda

69% Zimbabwe

Source: Sustainable energy development in Sub-Sahara Africa, 2009

Estimated PV Disseminated in Sub-Sahara African Countries

160000 Kenya, 150,000

140000

120000

100000 84,468

80000

60000

40000
Uganda Zambia
20000 958 538 5,724 5,000

0
Nigeria Botswana Zimbabwe

Source: ECN, 2000, Nieuwenhout, 1991, Diphaha and Burton, 1993, Karekezi, 2002
 Estimated PV Dissemination in Sub-Sahara African in kWp

12000 11,000

10000

8000

6000

4000
1,689

2000
203 152 286 400

0
Nigeria Uganda Botswana Zambia Zimbabwe Kenya

Source: ECN, 2000, Nieuwenhout, 1991, Diphaha and Burton, 1993, Karekezi, 2002

Percentage Distribution of Small and Medium

Scale Biogas Units in Selected Sub-Sahara
African Country

2%
0% Nigeria
3% 0% Tanzania
16%
40% Kenya
Botswana
Burundi
22% Zimbabwe
17% Lesotho
Burkina Faso

Source: Karekezi and Ranja, 1997; Karekezi, 2002, ECN, 2000

 Estimated Domestic Solar Water Heater Installed
Capacity,2000 500
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
50 40 24
100
10 4.8 2.4 10
50
0
Nig Bo Ma Ma Na Se So Zim
e ria tsw law ur i mi ych uth ba
an i tius b ia elle A bw
a s fric e
a

Source: ECN, DBSA, 1999, Mogotsi, 2000: Mandhlazi, 2000; Mapako, 2000; AFREPREN, 2002
6.0 RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

Going by the level of comatose that Nigeria’s energy sector is currently operating in,
there exists, therefore, the urgent need to remedy the situation especially as it has to do
with investments in the renewable energy sector. This paper has proved so far that, up till
the recent past, the FG has been the sole-investor in the renewable energy technologies.

Funding, marketing and institutional requirements for the entire renewable energy sector
is substantial. New investments are needed for exploration and exploitation activities.
The required type of marketing and financing is long-term and involves both foreign and
domestical financing resources.

Considering the risk element involved in renewable energy projects, marketing and
institutional investments in the sector should be capable of yielding high rates of return
and fast pay back periods in order to attract investors. Owing to other competing needs,
government alone cannot continue to provide the major finance and marketing for the
renewable energy technologies. Hence private sector participation is necessary and
imperative. To attract marketing, financing and institutional investment in the renewable
energy technology, certain necessary conditions would have to be met. These include:

• Improvement in the financial performance of renewable energy technology supply

companies in the country; and
• Providing an environment conducive for investment that also protects our national
interests.

By upgrading investment in renewable energy technology, it implies the adoption of

those practices that encourages or utilizes a result oriented investment approach. These
include:

• Getting renewable energy technology investment in the right framework

• Deciding on the goals of restructuring and the ideal renewable energy technology
structure
• Preparing the players to participate in competitive market
• Privatizing existing and new renewable energy technological assets
• Ensuring that a competitive market, financing and institution are implemented
properly
• Guarantee mechanisms to be put in place; and
• Pursuing international financing within the ambit of the law.

The conclusion of this paper is driven to promote the option of renewable energy
technology with particular regards to adopting the measure of Private Sector Participation
especially in Solar Energy Technologies in small and medium enterprises.
7.0 IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES

This paper closes by outlining additional considerations that need to be borne in mind by
energy stakeholders and development partners as they develop and evaluate the energy
component of Nigeria’s renewable energy technology sector investment. It could be
considered as the seven-point agenda of a strategic renewable energy technology
investment plan and are:

• Integrate renewable energy technology planning and implementation into a

National Strategy
• Be flexible in renewable energy technology marketing, financing and planning
• Introduce effective renewable energy technological Regulatory Framework
• Reduce costs through Financing Mechanisms and subsidies
• Enhance Human Capacity of renewable energy technology through education,
training and research
• Address international and regional issues
• Implement the 2003 National Energy Policy
8.0 REFERENCES

• Energy Commission of Nigeria (2007) National Energy Databank: Compendium

of Renewable Energy Systems Deployed in Nigeria

• Implementation of Renewable Energy Technologies: Opportunities and Barriers,

UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment, Riso,Denmark

• Sambo, Prof A. S. 2005. Strategic Planning of Electric Power Generation

System Expansion in Nigeria

• Barnes, D. 1995. Consequences of energy policies for the urban

poor.FPD Energy note No 7.

All other references are to be found in Solar and Renewable Energy Company (NIG)
LTD:Meeting R & D Commercialization Challenges; edited by Alexander O. E.
Animalu, E. N. C. Osakwe and U. B. Akuru -2009