By Yemi Olakitan
As approximately 60 per cent of Nigeria’s estimated energy demand in 2050 is expected to be met by renewable energy sources, the Nigerian government and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have created the Renewable Energy Roadmap (Remap) Nigeria to meet Nigeria’s energy needs.
Nigeria will be able to simultaneously save 40 per cent on natural gas demands and 65 per cent on oil needs thanks to the breakthrough.
The research was made public in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which Masdar, also known as the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, organised. Nigeria needs sustainable energy sources to meet the expanding demands of all economic sectors and attain universal access to contemporary energy services due to its rapidly expanding population and a variety of socioeconomic issues.
The report, which was produced in partnership with the Nigerian Energy Commission, emphasised the need for Nigeria to make significant investments in electrification because, according to the report, electricity will become a significantly larger portion of final energy use by 2050 than it was in 2015, nearly doubling from 15% to 27%.
Nigeria, according to Dr. Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora, is endowed with an abundance of renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, which can be used to increase its energy supply and achieve universal energy access, energy security, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for climate change mitigation.
“Policy coordination will be vital to unlocking integrated energy transition planning and guaranteeing its success,” he said, referring to Nigeria’s energy sector’s extremely dispersed institutional structure. In order to scale up renewable energy to fulfil the needs of the Nigerian energy industry, a cross-cutting agency or group would be helpful in forging agreement and creating a cohesive plan.
Director-General of IRENA, Francesco La Camera, stated that Nigeria could affordably offer sustainable energy for all of its population.
“Nigeria has a rare opportunity to create a renewable-based sustainable energy system that promotes socioeconomic recovery and development, addresses climatic issues, and achieves energy security.
“Accelerating the energy transformation would need farsighted decisions, restraint, and sensible investments, supported by international cooperation and good national planning in Nigeria,” and that IRENA is ready to work with others to make the vision outlined in this study a reality, he said.
Nigeria must strengthen current initiatives to encourage clean cooking and access to contemporary energy sources in order to meet its demands. According to the paper, Nigeria must soon start using electric cars (EVs) and biofuels in addition to expanding the use of public transportation in order to sustainably fulfil rising transportation demand.
Due to a growing population and improvements in the socioeconomic conditions of the populace, Nigeria’s energy consumption is anticipated to rise.
To address the most important problems and opportunities on the path to net zero, ADSW gathers international leaders in politics, business, and industry. The ADSW will concentrate on a wide range of crucial issues, including food and water security, energy access, industrial decarbonization, health, and climate adaptation in an effort to accelerate sustainable development and achieve economic, social, and environmental progress.