An investigation of models of community-based low-carbon distributed energy systems in Nigeria

Sadiq, I

Abstract

This thesis undertakes research into community-based low-carbon distributed energy systems in Nigeria. It focuses the socio-technical factors of the development and operation of community energy systems, ranging from increasing population and economic growth to the issues of climate change and energy access as drivers for low carbon community energy systems.
The emergence of community low-carbon energy generation is an important factor for peripheral urban communities in Nigeria, addressing the key challenges to the energy system in Nigeria. The thesis explores the delivery of a low carbon energy system and the engagement with and impact on the participating community. This includes the social and cultural aspects and relationships between community key factors such as households, businesses, individuals, and national and local government involved in the development and operation of low carbon distributed energy systems. It also identifies the issues of innovative technologies, including the energy generation systems, energy storage systems, energy services and financial aspects, which should be adopted for the development and operation sustainable system. It examines distributed renewable energy technologies through a community ownership model to address the problem of the energy system in Nigeria.
The research is an empirical investigative study adopting a multiple case study approach to identify the impacts of socio-technical aspects, the actors and management of community energy system. Four main case studies and a pilot case study selected to explore the socio-technical aspects of different community energy projects in Nigeria. These community energy projects comprised the Usuma Solar project in Abuja (USP); the Guzape Solar-Wind Hybrid Project in Northern Abuja (GSWHP); the Gnami Off-grid Solar Power Project in Kaduna (GOSPP); and the Danjawa Integrated Renewable Energy Project in Sokoto (DIREP). The research explores how the different and similar factors and issues such as motives, funding sources, and benefits of the energy projects from different community energy projects are involved in relation to key actors.
The key findings of the research highlight the importance of effective capitalisation of the project, particularly with a view to the long-term sustainability of the project. It also highlights the issues of effective system governance and how failure can create technical issues for the system. It concludes that the structural model of community governance, both formal and informal at the local level facilitates providing better decisions for the supply of technical aspects. Additionally, energy access programmes for community energy systems would enable financial sustainability for the operation and maintenance of community energy projects. Finally, the research recommends to further study for local renewable energy generation and energy efficiency measures.

Citation

Sadiq, I. An investigation of models of community-based low-carbon distributed energy systems in Nigeria. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Dec 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 17, 2020
• Award Date: Nov 1, 2020