By Dele-Yaro Daniel Ademola
Since the inception of the century, there has been rapidly-increasing awareness of the impact of mankind’s modern lifestyle on the environment. This impact arises from pollution, consumption, and destruction of natural resources, all of which result in the emission of greenhouse gases.
The results of these emissions are climate change and global warming.[3] As humanity progresses into an era where there is substantial increase in the awareness on the need for sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices, there is now an intensifying debate with regard to the role that intellectual property rights should play on the attainment of this. Intellectual property rights may be seen as a valuable tool to promote the development and diffusion of green technology.
Energy supply makes up the largest portion of sources of greenhouse gas emissions globally.
The primary contributor to the atmospheric release of man-made CO2 is the burning of fossil fuel, eighty percent of such CO2 arises as a result of burning oil, coal, and gas. Green technology has been adopted in this paper and shall be taken to mean technology which is used, or may be used, to promote sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or otherwise assist in the solution to climate change. Green technologies encompass various aspects of technology which help us reduce the human impact on the environment and create mechanisms of sustainable development.
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Perhaps the most significant green technology is that which facilitates clean and renewable energy and much of this technology is, or will be, subject to intellectual property rights.
Solid waste management is the most pressing environmental challenge faced by urban and rural areas of Nigeria. Nigeria with population exceeding 170 million is one of the largest producers of solid waste in Africa. Despite a host of policies and regulations, solid waste management in the country is assuming alarming proportions with each passing day. Nigeria generates more than 32 million tons of solid waste annually, out of which only 20-30% is collected. Reckless disposal has led to blockage of sewers and drainage networks, and choking of water bodies thus leading to environmental catastrophe. Waste-to-energy has become a promising strategy catering to these issues because the utilization of Municipal solid waste MSW is a viable source of energy for electricity generation and minimization of green house gas emissions.
IMPERATIVE OF WASTE TO ENERGY
The electricity sector in Nigeria generates, transmits, and distributes megawatts of electric power that is significantly less than what is needed. Electricity in Nigeria is generated through thermal and hydro power sources. The main source of electricity in Nigeria is derived from fossil fuels which accounts for 86% of the capacity in Nigeria with the remainder generated from hydro power sources. Nigeria needs 40,000 megawatts to sustain the basic needs of the population but generates only about 4,000 megawatts.
Waste to energy is rapidly growing all over the world because it can reduce the demand for landfills, prevent dependence on fossil fuels; reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and have a positive impact on economic growth. The advanced MSW management technology with the benefit of recovering energy from the solid waste is a promising alternative in resolving the waste disposal complexity in the country. WTE process can reduce a community’s land fill volume by up to 90% and prevent the emission of one tone of green house gases. The typical range of net electrical energy that can be produced is about 50-60 kWh of electricity per ton of waste incinerated. Thus, the incineration of about 2,200 tons per day of waste will produce about 1200 Mwh of electrical energy, and since Nigeria generates more than 32 million tons of solid waste annually she would be able to generate about 112,539 Megawatts of electrical energy and meet the needs of the population.
