7 Will a Transition to Renewable Energy Promote …
239
Ominously, over-reliance on gas-fired power, and as noted in page 4 by
NERC does not only raise resource monopoly concern but also even
intensifies energy insecurity. Therefore, ensuring a well-balanced sustainable national grid system operation, which fosters an acceptable degree
of energy security requires a good deal of energy mix, including different
forms of renewables. For Nigeria, renewable energy has a promising solution to the energy crisis for energy security, and such primary potential
energy sources are examined hereunder.
7.3.1 Hydro Power
The location of Nigeria in Africa and on the world map offers good environmental conditions for harnessing sufficient hydropower. There exist
several exploitable big and small rivers, including streams dispersed in
most states.
27 The most exciting thing is that the available rivers offer
good sites for large and small hydropower projects, which are likely to
serve urban dwellers and the most often isolated rural inhabitants.
28
Nigeria is also typically characterized by regular incidences of significant natural rainfall. This can be harnessed with support from modern
technology to generate electricity.
The potential of hydro sites in the country has attracted both policy
and research attention. Existing research shows enormous opportunities in most states for unexploited small hydropower, with a predictable
overall capacity of 3500 MW, of which only about 64.2 MW is currently
exploited.
29 The evidence further indicates that both rivers and streams
in Nigeria have a potential to provide 70 micro dams, 126 mini dams and
86 small sites for generating an estimated capacity of 11,250 MW, but
only about 17% is exploited under the prevailing energy regime.
30 The
Enrico Mattei Working Paper No. 010.2018, http://hdl.handle.net/10419/177262, accessed 18
May 2020.
27 Ismaila Haliru Zarma, ‘Hydro Power Resources in Nigeria’ (International Centre on Small
Hydro Power 2nd Hydro Power for Today Conference, Hangzhou, 2006).
28 Ibid.
29 GET.invest, ‘Nigeria: Renewable Energy Potential’, https://www.get-invest.eu/market-inform
ation/nigeria/renewable-energy-potential/, accessed 5 April 2020.
30 Ibid.
239
Ominously, over-reliance on gas-fired power, and as noted in page 4 by
NERC does not only raise resource monopoly concern but also even
intensifies energy insecurity. Therefore, ensuring a well-balanced sustainable national grid system operation, which fosters an acceptable degree
of energy security requires a good deal of energy mix, including different
forms of renewables. For Nigeria, renewable energy has a promising solution to the energy crisis for energy security, and such primary potential
energy sources are examined hereunder.
7.3.1 Hydro Power
The location of Nigeria in Africa and on the world map offers good environmental conditions for harnessing sufficient hydropower. There exist
several exploitable big and small rivers, including streams dispersed in
most states.
27 The most exciting thing is that the available rivers offer
good sites for large and small hydropower projects, which are likely to
serve urban dwellers and the most often isolated rural inhabitants.
28
Nigeria is also typically characterized by regular incidences of significant natural rainfall. This can be harnessed with support from modern
technology to generate electricity.
The potential of hydro sites in the country has attracted both policy
and research attention. Existing research shows enormous opportunities in most states for unexploited small hydropower, with a predictable
overall capacity of 3500 MW, of which only about 64.2 MW is currently
exploited.
29 The evidence further indicates that both rivers and streams
in Nigeria have a potential to provide 70 micro dams, 126 mini dams and
86 small sites for generating an estimated capacity of 11,250 MW, but
only about 17% is exploited under the prevailing energy regime.
30 The
Enrico Mattei Working Paper No. 010.2018, http://hdl.handle.net/10419/177262, accessed 18
May 2020.
27 Ismaila Haliru Zarma, ‘Hydro Power Resources in Nigeria’ (International Centre on Small
Hydro Power 2nd Hydro Power for Today Conference, Hangzhou, 2006).
28 Ibid.
29 GET.invest, ‘Nigeria: Renewable Energy Potential’, https://www.get-invest.eu/market-inform
ation/nigeria/renewable-energy-potential/, accessed 5 April 2020.
30 Ibid.