Understanding Environmental Conservation Technologies

Environmental conservation technologies encompass a broad spectrum of innovative solutions to mitigate environmental impact, reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainable practices. These technologies can be applied across various sectors, including energy, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and construction, to name a few. Here are some key areas where businesses can make a significant impact:

Renewable Energy:

Transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Installing solar panels, wind turbines, and energy-efficient systems can help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

Waste Reduction and Recycling:

Implementing efficient waste management practices and promoting recycling within your organisation can significantly reduce landfill waste and save valuable resources. Consider reusing materials, reducing packaging, and recycling programs.

Sustainable Supply Chain:

Collaborating with suppliers, prioritising sustainability, and responsible sourcing are crucial. Tracking and reducing the carbon footprint of your supply chain can enhance your overall sustainability efforts.

Green Building Technologies:

Incorporating energy-efficient building designs, materials, and technologies can lower energy consumption and operational costs. This is especially relevant for companies in the construction and real estate sectors.

Water Conservation:

Efficient water use and wastewater treatment technologies can help conserve this precious resource. Installing water-saving fixtures and recycling water in manufacturing processes can be beneficial.

Transportation Solutions:

Reducing emissions from company vehicles or offering incentives for employees to use public transportation or carpooling are ways to contribute to cleaner air and reduced congestion.

Practical Steps for Businesses to Lead in Environmental Conservation Technologies

Conduct an Environmental Audit:

Assess your current environmental impact by conducting a comprehensive environmental audit. This will help identify areas where improvements can be made.

Set clear sustainability goals and targets for your organisation. Make them measurable, time-bound, and aligned with global sustainability initiatives like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Embrace Renewable Energy:

Invest in on-site renewable energy sources or purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset your energy consumption from non-renewable sources.

Implement energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting and smart HVAC systems, to reduce energy consumption.

Sustainable Procurement:

Collaborate with suppliers who share your commitment to sustainability—Prioritise suppliers with responsible sourcing practices and eco-friendly products.

Consider circular economy principles, such as product design for longevity and ease of recycling.

Waste Management and Recycling:

Implement waste reduction strategies within your organisation. Encourage employees to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Partner with recycling companies to ensure proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) and hazardous materials.

Employee Engagement:

Foster a culture of sustainability within your workforce. Educate employees about the importance of environmental conservation and encourage their active participation.

Offer incentives for sustainable commuting, such as public transportation subsidies or telecommuting options.

Technology Adoption:

Embrace cutting-edge environmental conservation technologies that align with your industry. This may include investing in energy-efficient machinery, adopting IoT-based ecological monitoring systems, or utilising predictive analytics for resource management.

Publicise Your Commitment:

Communicate your sustainability efforts transparently to customers, investors, and the public. Highlight your achievements and progress towards sustainability goals.

Showcase eco-friendly certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or B Corp certification, if applicable.

Collaborate and Innovate:

Seek partnerships and collaborations with other businesses, research institutions, and government agencies to share knowledge and drive innovation in environmental conservation technologies.

Explore emerging technologies like carbon capture and utilisation, sustainable biofuels, and advanced recycling processes.

Conclusion

Environmental conservation technologies are no longer just a choice but a necessity for businesses looking to thrive in a world increasingly focused on sustainability. By adopting these technologies and implementing practical steps, companies can reduce their environmental impact, cut operational costs, and position themselves as leaders in the transition toward a more sustainable future. Embracing these innovations benefits the environment, enhances a company’s reputation, attracts environmentally-conscious customers, and ensures long-term success in an eco-friendly world.

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Kenya Startup Ed Fund Private Schools | South Africa Launches Electric Taxi | Ghanaian Agri-Tech Oyster Funded | Google AI And Data Analytics Training Program | Technigerian Dating App | Tramatch, Business Solutions Startup Traction Expansion

Kenya’s Ed Partners secures $1.5m debt funding to fund affordable private schools – Disrupt Africa

Kenyan startup Ed Partners has secured US$1.5 million in debt funding from social impact investor Oikocredit to provide affordable financing to private schools.

Founded in 2018 by Lydia Koros and David FitzHerbert, and currently led by CEO Amos Mwangi, Ed Partners provides financing options for crucial elements of the education system, including infrastructure, technology, and transport. Its impact has already reached over 100,000 students across 350 schools.

The startup, which raised a US$1.9 million funding round in June 2021, provides infrastructural loans to educational institutions to support the construction of new classrooms, washrooms, laboratories and dormitories, as well as the acquisition of computers, buses, vans, and internet connectivity.

Ed Partners has now secured a further US$1.5 million capital in the form of a loan fromOikocredit, a social impact investor and worldwide cooperative that aims to enable people with low incomes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to improve their living standards sustainably. The funds will be utilised to offer more affordable loans to Kenyan private schools. Read more here: 

Electricity Crisis, South Africa Launches Electric Taxi – Tech In Africa

Despite facing a significant load-shedding crisis, South Africa continues progressing towards green energy solutions. A team from Stellenbosch University (SU), a government-owned institution, is examining the viability of introducing the nation’s inaugural electric taxis. These taxis can potentially cover distances of up to 120 kilometres before necessitating a recharge. They are equipped with an electric motor boasting a power of 90 kWh and a battery capacity of 53.76 kWh.

The SU team has successfully transformed a minibus taxi into an electric-powered vehicle in partnership with Rham Equipment. The converted taxi is currently undergoing road testing, with performance assessments planned to follow shortly.

Stephan Lacock, a team member, described the conversion process, which involved removing the original internal combustion engine (ICE) and associated components such as the petrol tank, manual transmission, gas pipe, and radiator. Read more here: 

Ghanaian agri-tech startup Oyster Agribusiness raises $310k funding to scale – Disrupt Africa

Ghana’s Oyster Agribusiness, an agricultural enterprise that employs significant levels of tech and works closely with smallholder farmers, has raised US$310,000 in grant and debt funding to propel its mission of sustainable agriculture, gender inclusion, and talent management.

Founded in 2018, Oyster Agribusiness is dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers through the provision of sustainable inputs, improved agronomic practices, and a reliable market for their produce. It does this using tech to power its input distributions and yield, as well as utilising seeders for planting and drones for spraying.

The company, which already works with 3,000 smallholder farmers, has recently secured a total of US$310,000 in debt and grant funding, which it will use to expand its operations.

Oyster’s debt capital comes from Root Capital, a non-profit lender committed to fostering resilience and prosperity in rural communities, while the startup has also received two grants totalling a further US$10,000. Read more here: 

Google Empowers Nigerian Youth with AI and Data Analytics Training Program – Tech In Africa

Google is making a significant move to boost digital skills, employability, and business growth by revealing a plan to educate 20,000 Nigerian women and youth in digital competencies.

This program is funded by a grant from Google’s charitable division, which collaborates with Data Science Nigeria and the Creative Industry Initiative for Africa . to synchronize with the Nigerian government’s pledge to increase the involvement of young people in the digital economy.

The objective? Addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria by arming participants with the essential digital capabilities needed for the upcoming job environment. Notably, the tech giant already runs the “Grow with Google in Africa” program, partnering with numerous African governments and industry specialists to aid individuals in enhancing their digital expertise for their professions and enterprises. Read more here:

TECHNigerian-founded dating app, Tramatch, launches beta to democratize love – Ripples News

Tramatch, a Nigerian-founded dating app that connects lovers, has announced its beta launch on mobile to democratize how people connect with potential partners. The cofounder and product manager, Ani Okono, made the announcement in a press release forwarded to Ripples Nigeria on Thursday, August 17, 2023.

Founded in 2023, Tramatch.com, according to Ani, is on a mission to address “the age-old human yearning for authentic connections and enduring relationships. Its user friendly service website offers subscribers a novel spin on matchmaking that distinguishes it from traditional dating apps. Read more here: 

Nigerian business solutions startup Traction plans expansion after serving 70k customers – Disrupt Africa

Nigerian startup Traction, a comprehensive business solutions platform designed exclusively for African MSMEs, is planning continental expansion after serving 70,000 customers and banking US$6 million in funding.

Founded in 2020, Traction has developed a comprehensive one-stop platform that enables businesses to accept payments, manage finances, and access essential operational tools. Business owners can accept payments via POS terminals or virtual accounts, use point-of-sale software to record their sales, track inventory, and manage customers through CRM and loyalty solutions.

The platform also offers a range of financial services, including merchant wallets, cash advance loans, savings, and bill payments. Traction obtained a payments solution services license from the Central Bank of Nigeria last year, allowing it to operate as a payment solution provider across various payment categories. Read more here: 

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Imagine a future where energy is clean, efficient, and accessible to all. This future is within reach, and the transformative effect of Artificial Intelligence powers it. As AI continues to advance, it is revolutionising the renewable energy sector, improving the efficiency of energy generation and distribution, and paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made remarkable progress in recent years, and its potential to improve the world is immense. One of the most significant fields that AI has impacted is the renewable energy sector. AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we generate, distribute, and consume energy, making it cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective.

Renewable energy is generated from natural resources, such as the sun, wind, water, and geothermal heat. This energy is clean, sustainable, and doesn’t pollute the environment. Renewable energy has become increasingly important with the increasing world’s energy consumption and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. AI can help in this regard by improving the efficiency of renewable energy systems and making it easier to integrate renewable energy into the existing grid.

One of the key areas where AI impacts the renewable energy sector is in the prediction and optimisation of renewable energy generation. For example, AI algorithms can use weather data and other inputs to predict how much energy a solar panel will generate and how much energy a wind turbine will produce. This information can optimise energy generation, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Another area where AI is making a difference in the renewable energy sector is energy distribution. AI algorithms can help optimise energy distribution by predicting the energy demand at different times and locations and adjusting accordingly. This can help reduce energy waste and make energy distribution more efficient and cost-effective.

AI can also help in the development of new renewable energy technologies. For example, AI algorithms can analyse data on the performance of existing renewable energy systems and identify areas for improvement. This information can then be used to design new systems that are more efficient and cost-effective.

Another area where AI can play a role in the renewable energy sector is the maintenance of renewable energy systems. AI algorithms can help predict when a system is likely to fail and schedule maintenance accordingly, reducing the risk of system failures and increasing the efficiency of renewable energy systems.

AI can also play a role in reducing the cost of renewable energy. By improving the efficiency of renewable energy systems and making it easier to integrate renewable energy into the existing grid, AI can help reduce the cost of renewable energy. This will make it more accessible to a larger number of people, making the world a cleaner and more sustainable place.

The impact of AI in the renewable energy sector goes beyond just improving efficiency and reducing costs. Here are a few more examples to bring it all together:

Grid integration

Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are subject to fluctuations, making it challenging to integrate them into the grid. AI can help predict these fluctuations and adjust the grid in real-time to ensure stability and reliability.

Predictive maintenance

AI algorithms can help predict when components in renewable energy systems are likely to fail, allowing for proactive maintenance to be scheduled, reducing downtime and increasing the overall lifespan of the systems.

Resource planning

AI can help plan and manage renewable energy resources by analysing weather patterns and other data to predict energy generation and demand. This can help utilities and energy companies better manage the energy mix and ensure enough energy is available to meet demand.

Energy storage

Energy storage is critical for the growth of renewable energy, as it allows excess energy to be stored and used when demand is high. AI can help optimise energy storage systems by predicting demand and adjusting energy storage accordingly.

Carbon capture and storage

AI can help develop carbon capture and storage systems, which are critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. AI algorithms can analyse data on the performance of existing carbon capture and storage systems and identify areas for improvement, helping to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of these systems.

In conclusion, the role of AI in the renewable energy sector is enormous. AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we generate, distribute, and consume energy, making it cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective. With the world’s energy consumption increasing and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AI is vital in making renewable energy a more significant part of the world’s energy mix. In short, as AI advances, we can expect to see even more impactful innovations in the renewable energy sector, helping us move towards a more sustainable future.

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Access to electricity has become integral to modern life and essential for the economy of nations, certainly not an optional luxury. Electricity is needed for lighting, heating, cooling/refrigeration, and running appliances such as computers, electronics, machinery, and public transportation systems. Electricity plays a crucial role in every nation’s socio-economic and technological development.

It seems unimaginable that despite abundant natural energy resources such as fossil fuel, sunshine, and natural gas, Nigeria has never had 24 hours of power in any time of its history.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has said that the number of Nigerians without access to grid electricity has risen by 5.8 per cent to 90 million at the end of 2021 (The Guardian on 07 July 2022). The electricity demand significantly exceeds the supply. Attempts to fix the situation led to the privatisation of the power sector in 2013. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was unbundled, leading to the selling of the distribution and generation assets to core investors. Regulation by the Nigerian government is through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Stakeholders include the DISCOs (distribution companies), the GENCOs (generation companies), and the TCN (transmission companies). However, recently, as reported in the Punch newspaper on 14th March 2022, there have been disagreements and blame trading between some stakeholders, which is unhelpful in tackling the massive problem of erratic supply. The former Power Minister Barth Nnaji, who has been close to what’s going on in the sector, recently shared his thoughts on the Nigeria electricity crisis; he gave three reasons for the perennial shortage or intermittent electricity supply. Nnaji was quoted in the Vanguard Newspaper on March 20, 2022, saying that the three planks of the multi-faceted problem are: Lack of gas supply for existing plants, dilapidated or inadequate transmission and distribution infrastructure as well as ‘man-made’ disruptions along the power supply value chain.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Indeed, where there is the will and determination, the problem of erratic supply in the nation is not insurmountable. Other industrialised countries have faced difficulties and have come out with functional energy sectors serving the need of the nations and still working to improve. In response to the war in Ukraine and the resultant energy insecurity situation, some countries are now developing new policies aimed at Energy Security Strategy. For example, the UK seeks to step up renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power and invest in more nuclear energy supplies.

Meeting the requirements of the billions of people who still lack access to an essential electricity supply while also taking part in the global shift to clean, low-carbon energy systems is a dual-energy challenge for developing and emerging economies in the twenty-first century. The bedrock of modern society is an electricity system that is economically competitive, reliable and environmentally friendly.

What Are Some Potential Tech Solutions

There are various technological solutions, and we will discuss some of these here, all renewable, harnessing naturally existing energy flux, such as wind, sun, heat, or tides, and converting that flux to electricity. Many kinds of literature, books, articles etc., have been written to describe these techs; we won’t dwell on details. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, tidal and geothermal. Of the various source of energy, those favoured for large-scale/mass populations are solar, hydropower and wind energy. Below are some stats on generation and power capacity (IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2022).

Renewable generation capacity by energy source

At the end of 2021, global renewable generation capacity amounted to 3 064 GW. Hydropower accounted for the largest share of the worldwide total, with a capacity of 1 230 GW.* Solar and wind energy accounted for equal shares of the remainder, with capacities of 849 GW and 825 GW, respectively. Other renewables included 143 GW of bioenergy and 16 GW of geothermal, plus 524 MW of marine energy.

Renewable power capacity growth

Renewable generation capacity increased by 257 GW (+9.1%) in 2021. Solar energy continued to lead the capacity expansion, with an increase of 133 GW (+19%), followed by wind energy with 93 GW (+13%). Hydropower capacity increased by 19 GW (+2%) and bioenergy by 10 GW (+8%). Geothermal energy increased by 1.6 GW.

Solar and wind energy continued to dominate renewable capacity expansion, jointly accounting for 88% of all net renewable additions in 2021. Along with the higher growth of geothermal, this growth in wind and solar led to a high annual increase in renewable generating capacity.

Final words.

Nigeria must embark on a massive drive to improve access to electricity if she is to realise her economic goals. It is acknowledged that the nation is already tapping into the alternative energy sources discussed in the post; however, further private sector participation should be encouraged to boost the renewable sector, specifically focusing on solar, wind and hydro. Whilst all the tech solutions are great, Nigeria has particular problems that must be tackled as part of a holistic solution to the power problem.

• Charity, they say, begins at home; before massively embarking on the drive to export gas to other nations, Nigeria needs to promote self-sufficiency in the local gas supply for existing power plants.
• Rehabilitate dilapidated transmission and distribution infrastructure and invest in new facilities
• Tackle corruption in the sector and take on the vested interests who sabotage efforts and disrupt the power supply value chain. Some of these include portable power generator sellers.
• Nigeria also need to address vandalism, some of which is driven by economic hardship, with unscrupulous metals merchants.
• Create enabling legislation for private participation in renewable power generation such that any surplus can be exported to the national grid based on a buy-back arrangement with utility suppliers.

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The availability of electricity in Nigeria has worsened over the years. The country has been unable to meet demand because of its policies, regulations and management of operations. Its failure to provide adequate and reliable energy is well documented, specifically its impact on the economy.

Its commercial and industrial sectors have become heavily reliant on self-generated power, using petrol and diesel generators. This accounts for nearly half of all electricity consumed.

Nigeria’s shortage of reliable power supply is a constraint on the country’s economic growth.

The country needs to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas revenues, because that market is volatile. But if the energy-hungry private sector invested more in self-generation to make this possible, pollution would rise. An increase in self-generation would increase greenhouse gas emissions.

There’s extensive literature on the energy solutions that could provide reliable power supply. But most of it has focused on small-scale systems such as solar power for rural homes. There is still need for power in urban areas, not just for lighting homes but for powering commercial and industrial operations.

We sought to address this gap by examining the economic and environmental viability of hybrid off-grid power generation solutions for urban commercial centres. We looked for solutions that were affordable, reliable and sustainable. We took into consideration the fact that unreliable supply imposes indirect costs on people. Our work suggests that a combination of power generating technologies could help meet Nigeria’s triple challenge.

We surveyed 40 commercial centres in the capital city, Abuja, to establish their most common activities. This informed load demand projections. We then modelled a single commercial centre catering to these activities. We found that the majority of businesses in these commercial centres were boutiques, cyber cafes, salons, tailoring and grocery shops. Small-scale petrol generators served most of the commercial outlets on every shop floor.

We also interviewed three business owners from the commercial, education and entertainment sectors, who told us more about the economic, social and environmental costs of unreliable power supply.

Economic and social costs

A respondent in the commercial sector discussed the impact of electricity unreliability on business performance. He runs a male grooming salon. He said he couldn’t operate air-conditioners for long periods and the heat affected his business productivity.

In the education sector, our respondent highlighted the amount of time spent shuttling the school and business centres to ensure learning materials are always available to students. When the power is off, these centres are the cheapest places to produce paper-based learning materials.

And the entertainment sector interviewee said his turnover was halved when the power was off. Being a musician and music record producer in the digital era means that everything in music’s creative and distribution process is online and depends on power supply.

In evaluating the impact of electricity unreliability on quality of life, the commercial sector interviewee enabled us to draw the link between power supply, business profitability and personal stress. Financial worry can take a toll on mental and physical health. We heard about the stress of working around the power supply situation. Particularly, the disruption to sleep patterns caused by having to catch up work outside normal hours. The power supply situation also has an impact on the health sector. Especially, in providing health care services.

Unreliable power supply comes with environmental cost too. Petrol and diesel generators increases pollution, with a negative impact on climate change and human health. In turn, environmental damage can result in agricultural job losses.

National electrification efforts

Nigeria’s electrification initiatives have favoured the expansion of centralised power systems to meet urban energy demand and decentralised power systems for rural areas. Such an approach could still leave a shortage of electricity in urban areas because of the continued movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of a better quality of life. Extending the electricity reach of centralised systems might be costly, particularly in meeting the demand of the new urban population.

The most practical solution for countrywide electricity access is the combination of centralised and decentralised power systems. These solutions would ideally provide an uninterrupted power supply, have cheap operating costs and be environmentally clean.

Our case study on commercial centres met all three objectives with a system that combined power generating technologies (renewable and non-renewable sources). Results further suggested that excess energy generated by these systems can provide electricity to other sectors, including residential areas.

The model solution was an integrated hybrid solar-photovoltaic based power system without battery storage.

The system operates on solar power for an average of six hours a day. Solar-PV is the preferred renewable energy technology for Nigeria because of abundant sunshine. Diesel and petrol generators are used for the other 18 hours of the day. Solar-PV and a diesel generator meet the average and peak daily load demand. The petrol generator meets the daily low load demand. The system takes one to three months to set up, directly where it is needed. It’s modular and scalable and puts energy security in the hands of households and businesses. They can monitor energy costs, savings and emissions.

In our model, the system met 56% of the commercial centre’s total energy demand from solar-PV and the rest from generators. It was assumed that the system would be maintained four times a year to prevent unplanned downtime.

The operating costs were minimised by meeting the bulk of the daily demand with solar-PV. This also helped reduce environmental pollution.

Our study shows that such a hybrid system can help Nigeria address its triple challenge of unreliable power supply, pollution and the economic cost of electricity to businesses and households. But for such a solution to power residential areas and communities from its excess energy, government would have to create an enabling environment.

Policy changes

The electricity market would need to be structured to make energy trading possible. This is where an autonomous energy producer can sell excess power to a residential estate, for example, at a price the buyer and seller agree on.

At present, anyone generating over 1MW of electricity needs a power generation licence to legally trade energy. A more realistic benchmark would be about 10MW, so that licensing doesn’t become a bureaucratic stumbling block.

Effective energy policies and regulatory frameworks would be needed to guide climate change mitigation efforts as well as energy trading.

Author: Samuel Ayokunle Olówósejéjé, Doctoral candidate, University College Cork

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Overview of Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Sector

Utilising renewable energy sources to generate power for multiple uses is one of the most sustainable and economical practices in developing and developed nations. This involves harnessing the power of wind, sunlight, water, biomass and so on to meet the rising needs of humans. Several organisations have tapped into this opportunity to build an efficient system for their growth and expansion while minimising costs incurred using fossil fuel-dependent energy sources. Another benefit of tapping into renewable energy sources is the environmental friendliness compared to other energy sources. They do not contribute to climate change or cause environmental pollution. Instead, they encourage practices that rebuild the environment into its natural state to support life.

Nigeria is one of the leading West African countries in technological startups. Numerous startups or companies have substituted non-renewable energy sources with renewable energy sources. These organisations can see the vast potential in this sector, benefiting from low running costs by using renewable energy sources. Several bodies have set a goal to identify and nurture startups and innovations in green energy. One of such bodies is the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC) incubation programme, which aims to support early-stage ventures in the green energy sector.

Benefits of Renewable Energy in Nigeria

There are several benefits of renewable energy, as discussed earlier. The significant advantage over fossil fuels in generating power is environmental friendliness; it’s dependent on nature rather than refilling or refuelling with resources and cheaper in the long run. These factors have been considered by several enterprises and organisations harnessing this means of power to propel their growth and development.

In the agricultural industry, renewable energy sources such as windmills or solar power can cause a considerable transition from conventional farming to smart farming. The power supply is consistent on the farm, and various machines can be used for multiple operations. This increases farmers’ production capacity and food supply and restores vegetation in degraded land.

Various small to medium scale enterprises can also harness the power of renewable energy to hasten their business growth and expansion. Rather than depending on the irregular energy supply from the government, each business could develop its source of energy using solar panels or other alternatives as deemed fit. This will increase their running efficiencies and eventual expansion.

Another untapped potential of renewable energy sources is their use in food preservation or as a mechanism for drying and preserving food from spoilage. This brings out the uniqueness of renewable energy as they are not irregular in power generation, hence ensuring that food is safe and with a long shelf life. Some of this is seen in solar-powered cold hubs that help in preserving agricultural products like vegetables and fruits.

Uptake of Renewable Energy Sources in Nigeria

In Nigeria, surveys reveal that most people seem uninterested in renewable energy sources due to the belief that it is costly to set up and manage. This is, however, far from the truth. Setting up a renewable energy power plant may look expensive initially, but it becomes cheaper over time than fossil fuels. Several international bodies are interested in this sector due to the environmental friendliness and are willing to support business ventures delivering products or services in this sector. Therefore, there are numerous opportunities for Nigerian owned technological startups to address needs in this sector. These opportunities could be fund support, technical assistance or provision with appropriate networks. However, it is pitiful that only a few have tapped into the vast opportunities in this sector to drive growth in their businesses.

Enhancing the Use of Renewable Energy Sources

One significant way to enhance renewable energy sources in Nigeria is to sensitise the public, making them aware of the numerous opportunities and benefits of harnessing this power means. This can be achieved by organising renewable energy programs and supporting existing businesses that have tapped into the potential in this sector. The role of government in ensuring this is also crucial for the national adoption of green energy.

Technological Challenges of Renewable Energy in Nigeria

Like every other sector, the renewable energy sector has challenges that limit its easy adoption. One of such challenges is the high cost of the initial setup. Solar panels, windmills, hydroelectric power generators and so on have a high set-up cost due to the volume, expensive nature of the raw materials needed and limited manufacturing professionals in this sector. This, therefore, serves as a massive opportunity for individuals and businesses interested in the manufacturing aspect of this sector. Also, the power generated by renewable energy power plants is dependent on the size of the plant or panels (e.g. for solar power). A small windmill will generate relatively low power, likewise for solar panels. This means a technological gap between these systems and their efficiency. Therefore, scientists are urged to develop efficient systems that produce high kilowatt energy with small power plants or solar panels.

Solutions to Address Technological Development Issues in the Sector

As stated earlier, the major technological challenge in this sector results from the lack of manufacturing professionals. Therefore, more individuals and businesses must manufacture the needed products in this sector to solve this issue, such as solar panels, windmills, and water turbines. To achieve this, a suggestion is for both the non-governmental organisations and the government to incentivise startups to encourage individuals and businesses to be innovative in product designs in this sector.

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Many of the previously state owned enterprises were privatised. This was supposed to expand the private sector, provide infrastructure and utilities more effectively, and attract investment.

Unfortunately, privatisation has not had the result of turning Africa’s state owned enterprises around. Some successes have been reported among small and medium firms producing tradeable goods and the service sectors in some countries. But large utilities and infrastructure enterprises in the rail and power sectors and the large natural resource producers are tougher cases.

The political and economic challenges facing the sale of these gargantuan state assets often led to faulty privatisation. And in many instances, the process of privatising them was never completed.

Privatisation of Nigeria Power Sector

The Nigerian National Electricity Power Authority, later the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, was privatised for a period lasting over a decade. Eleven distribution companies and seven generating companies were sold to different private companies. The management of the single Transmission Company was concessioned to a Canadian firm (though that concession has expired and it is back with the Nigerian government).

It was a bold initiative, but the effort has left a host of post-privatisation challenges. Several years after the breakup of the power authority and the eventual sale of the power firms, citizens and industries still don’t have a reliable power supply. Although the country has an installed capacity of 12,522 MW, it is only able to generate around 4,000 MW, which is insufficient for the population of 200 million. Added to that are price hikes, a variety of tariffs and estimated billing.

Many Nigerians, including the leadership of the National Assembly, have mooted the idea the government should take back the power firms and manage them or re-privatise them. That would mean withdrawing the licences of current operators and starting a new privatisation process. There are no laws backing such moves at the moment.

Our recent research suggests that this would not be a solution. We examined the various policy options available to the Nigerian government to achieve an efficient power sector. Our main finding was that the sector suffered the same challenges after privatisation as it had before – and more. So we don’t recommend that the government should take over again. Rather, it should collaborate with the new owners and managers.

The Nigerian experience could also inform other countries that have privatised state-owned enterprises.

What we found

We identified a number of challenges for Nigeria’s privatised power sector.

One was that the new owners and managers had to operate in an unstable macroeconomic environment. Nigeria’s currency continues to depreciate against the US dollar, making it expensive to buy inputs, most of which have to be imported.

Also, the power infrastructure was old and poorly maintained. This created bottlenecks in transmission. Bringing the system up to speed requires huge capital investment.

Most of the investors who bought the power firms borrowed huge sums from banks to buy the assets. Lacking appropriate financing, they are trying to pay back their loans rather than investing to revitalise infrastructure.

The debt of gas and power suppliers is growing. And criminals frequently vandalise gas pipelines that supply power generating plants.

Even when power is generated, distribution companies can’t distribute it, because of the decayed infrastructure. So they don’t purchase it and consumers don’t get it.

There are also problems of power theft, inadequate customer metering and estimated billing. Consumption and payment are often out of tune.

What to do

If the government took over the power sector again, it would face all these challenges. It would have to take over employees and their salaries. State resources are already stretched.

If the sector were to be re-privatised, there is no guarantee that political, economic and social problems that occurred during the first attempt would not be repeated. These include corruption, surreptitious and unadvertised sales, lack of consultation with stakeholders, hidden fees or charges, undervaluation, extension of payment deadlines and sudden changes of preferred bidders.

Post-privatisation challenges call for the collaboration of government and the private sector.

In our paper we considered the model of third party government, which holds that citizens benefit when the government and the private sector work together. It includes funding assistance. The government need not own and manage utilities but could use an array of tools in collaboration with the private sector to strengthen key sectors of the economy. These tools include loans, loan guarantees, grants, contracts, social regulation, economic regulation, insurance, tax expenditures, vouchers and many more.

Many of the post-privatisation challenges in Nigeria’s power sector require the attention of the government. They include gas supply and dealing with vandalism, providing a regulatory environment that gives investors confidence, and providing long-term guarantees for loans, price subsidies and other support.

These steps would likely increase the budgets of government and weaken some of the economic benefits of privatisation, at least in the short term. Yet, without them, the private sector may be unable to turn a privatised public enterprise around, especially in the monopoly service sector. That would leave only short routes for companies to recover their investment and make profits at the expense of social benefits.

There has already been some collaboration like this in Nigeria.

In the final analysis our research revealed that privatisation cannot be seen as a one-off concluded programme in which the government is absolved from all responsibilities and liabilities. It has to collaborate with the new owners and managers to ensure the consolidation and success of privatisation.

This has a better chance of success than re-nationalisation – which has never delivered efficiency – or re-privatisation amid political and economic shortcomings.

Okechukwu Marcellus Ikeanyibe, Professor of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Image Credit: 82950655 © creativecommonsstockphotos | Dreamstime.com

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