Date: 31 March – 1 April 2021
Location: Virtual
Description: Oil-rich Nigeria is turning to renewable energy in a big way. The country has recently invested significantly in solar power projects, seeking to boost the capacity of the national grid and reduce reliance on it by building mini-grids in rural areas without electricity. The power sector in Nigeria is dominated by the intensive use of fossil fuel (88%) for power generation and low electrification rates at about 45%, actually 55% urban and less that 35% rural. Under the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP), Nigeria commits itself to sourcing 20% of electricity generation from renewables by 2030 – with PV, wind power, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass all to be developed. Whilst hydropower accounted for as high as 98% of the total renewable technology in use, Nigeria is endowed with abundant and diversified energy resources, both conventional and renewable. This can eventually provide the country with a sufficient capacity to meet the ambitions of a full nationwide electrification level, both urban and rural.
