Nigeria Electricity Grid and the Potentials of Renewable Energy Integration: A Concise Review

Abstract

Nigeria is a country that is heavily blessed with huge potentials for power generation. Unfortunately, more than half of the Nigerian population cannot access ten hours of electricity in a day. About one-quarter of the population doesn’t have access to any form of electricity. This is a disheartening situation that have huge effect on the economy of both the downtrodden and the elites in the society. More than three-quarter of primary energy generated in Nigeria is from fossil fuels, one should worry about this development given the negative effects carbon foot prints has on our environment and its contribution to the global emission rate. Nigeria has great renewable energy potentials that are yet to be tapped. Several individuals and corporate organization are being discouraged by the high initial cost of setting up renewable energy system and other evolving challenges of switching to renewable energy. In line with the agenda 2063 of the African Union to ensure that everyone in Africa have reasonable access to electricity, this study presents the current situation of the Nigeria electricity grid, challenges and the role that renewable energy can play to solve the challenges.