Power Punch Exploring the Potential for Waste-to-Energy in Nigeria by Doose Iortyom February 6, 2023 Published by Doose Iortyom Energy recovery from numerous alternative sources is a growing trend in the world. It offers a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save resources and promote sustainable development. Amidst the piles of garbage, there lies an untapped source of energy that holds great promise for Nigeria. This article will explore the potential for waste-to-energy in Nigeria. Energy recovery from waste products is a process that converts non-recyclable waste into valuable energy sources. The growing concern for environmental sustainability and the increasing energy demand justifies the adoption of energy alternatives. Hence, finding ways to generate energy from waste would help address some challenges, such as improving the electricity access deficit. According to a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) report, Nigeria generates over 32 million tons of waste annually, accounting for 2.5 million tons of plastic. Nigeria is among the top 20 nations that contribute 83 per cent of the total volume of land-based plastic waste that ends up in the oceans. Waste often ends up on the streets or in landfills without proper management. This leads to environmental degradation, flooding, and health problems among affected populations. Different waste management methods can produce energy, including incineration, gasification, and anaerobic digestion. Incineration is the process of burning waste at high temperatures to generate heat and electricity. Gasification, on the other hand, converts waste into a gas that can produce energy. Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that converts organic waste into biogas, which can be used for cooking, heating, and electricity generation. Anaerobic digestion is most suitable for Nigeria, given that the average temperature range is from 10°C to 35°C, with relatively long hot periods. There is, therefore, high solar energy potential for anaerobic digesters as a clean development mechanism. In cold countries, achieving optimum bacterial activity and biogas production requires a hydraulic retention time of 15 to 20 days to run the digester. Nigeria and most West-African countries significantly reduce this time to four to five days. In other countries, waste-to-energy has made significant progress. For example, Europe has a well-developed waste-to-energy industry, with Sweden leading the way. In 2018, Sweden generated more than 50 per cent of its electricity from waste and other renewable sources. China is also making great strides, with an estimated 72 waste-to-energy plants in operation as of 2019. Despite abundant waste and a rapidly growing population, Nigeria has not fully harnessed its potential for waste-to-energy. Reasons for this include a lack of investments, inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks, and a lack of awareness of the benefits of this form of alternative energy source. To fully attain the potential for waste-to-energy in Nigeria, the government must take more proactive measures in promoting and regulating the industry. These measures could include providing tax incentives for waste-to-energy companies, streamlining the permitting process, and investing in education and outreach programmes to raise awareness of the benefits of converting waste to energy. Conversely, the private sector also has a crucial role to play. Companies must invest in technology by acquiring new equipment and retrofitting existing facilities. Additionally, the collaboration between the private and public sectors must be encouraged. This would create a favourable regulatory environment and overcome the challenges currently preventing the growth of Nigeria’s waste-to-energy industry. The waste conversion potential in Nigeria is enormous. Therefore, the government’s attention must be drawn to waste-energy-technology management methods, as it not only effectively manages the waste by providing a clean and conducive environment for all but also has the additional benefit of electricity generation. February 6, 2023 0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Power Punch EU Plans Increased Gas Supply From Nigeria by Chiamaka Asoegwu July 19, 2022 Published by Chiamaka Asoegwu The International Energy Agency (IEA), the Paris-based think tank that draws up energy policies for Western countries, has published a 10-point plan to help Europe cut its dependence on Russian gas, which could open new markets for other gas producers. The European Union (EU) plans increased gas supply from Nigeria and other African countries to help replace imports of Russian natural gas and reduce dependence on Moscow by almost two-thirds this year. The communication on external energy engagement is set to be adopted by the European Commission later this month as part of a package to implement the bloc’s plan to cut energy reliance on Moscow. Countries in Western Africa, particularly Nigeria, primarily offer the untapped potential for liquified natural gas. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says Nigeria’s proven natural gas reserve has risen to 209.5 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) as of Jan. 1, 2022. This is the ninth largest proven reserve globally. This resource size puts Nigeria in an enviable position within the comity of global hydrocarbon producers. Even in this era of the global energy transition, the oil and gas sector remains pivotal to the Nigerian economy. The 27-nation bloc wants to shift away from its biggest supplier after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. The draft energy strategy also seeks to prepare the region to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030. This strategy aims to help replace gas from Russia, in line with the ambitious EU Green Deal to walk away from fossil fuels and reach climate neutrality by mid-century. The continent’s internal pressures have also opened conversations about the possibility of more cost-effective power generation sources like nuclear. In 2021, the EU imported 45 per cent of its gas from Russia, representing almost 40 per cent of its total gas consumption. However, the EU’s backing of Ukraine in the war against Russia is opening fissures other producers can exploit. Hence, the EU plans to increase gas supply from Nigeria, which is currently the fourth gas supplier to Europe. As the future of Nigeria’s energy, industrial and economic development, gas has become more pressing, given the country’s growing population and urbanization. While this represents a massive opportunity for Nigeria’s foreign exchange and improved GDP, the sector is mainly underdeveloped as production-to-reserves is approximately 1%. To exploit this opportunity fully, the government of Nigeria must galvanize its efforts in the following ways: Gas infrastructure should be rehabilitated through concession (Public-Private Partnerships). Investments in vital infrastructure are, now more than ever, crucial to boost the production and supply of gas. However, most gas exploration and production activities are geared towards associated gas, even though Nigeria holds more reserves in non-associated gas. This is due to the shortage of investment needed to pursue non-associated gas sites.Security challenges should be resolved. The concentration of activities in the Niger Delta makes gas exploration and production highly susceptible to regional security challenges.The government should review and prioritize commitment to the implementation of the long-term plans of the National Gas Policy. The unfavourable business climate in Nigeria is responsible for International Oil Companies (IOCs) leaving Nigeria. And while local players are taking advantage of this situation, there exists the problem of how they would navigate the Nigerian business terrain. And until the government passes applicable legislation that will tackle vandalism and insecurity, it may not adequately exploit the opportunity to strengthen its economy as the EU plans increased gas supply from Nigeria. July 19, 2022 1 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Power Punch Nuclear Power: Key to European Energy Security? by Aisi Atiti June 6, 2022 Published by Aisi Atiti The diversification of energy sources has become pertinent to the global community in addressing climate change. Today, each region seeks to find cleaner fuels such as nuclear and green hydrogen tailored to their available resources and economies. An example is the possibility of nuclear power as the key to European energy security. In 2019, 39 per cent of the energy consumed in Europe was provided by fossil fuels, with 26 per cent from nuclear power generation. However, unlike Africa, Europe has the capacity and finance to develop projects from clean energy generation options. Also, the continent currently faces enormous internal pressures, like the need to cut dependence on Russian natural gas. These pressures, alongside the necessity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, have left the continent seeking to find clean, cost-effective ways to ensure energy security. For these reasons, nuclear power is one of the options being considered to replace fossil fuel energy generation. Nuclear power plants, although fairly expensive, can last from 30 to 60 years before they are decommissioned. Also, nuclear power plants are considered clean because they do not emit greenhouse gas emissions that are detrimental to the global climate. For this, France and other countries have announced plans to increase nuclear power generation to meet their emission reduction goals. However, are these points valid enough for nuclear power to be the key to European energy security? Despite the absence of greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear power plants, nuclear pollution is not completely non-existent. Nuclear explosions and the disposal mechanisms of radioactive waste from nuclear plants have been topics of concern among environmentalists. Usually, nuclear waste is packaged in canisters and then buried underwater, underground or in buildings. However, this process, coupled with the possibility of a nuclear plant explosion, does not eliminate the risk of radioactive contamination of land and marine environments. In the past, major disadvantages to adopting nuclear power generation were the cost and difficulty in developing the plants. However, technological breakthroughs have made for simpler nuclear reactor designs. For example, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can be built remotely before being deployed and generate up to 300MW. In Romania, the U.S Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) provided funding to support the integration of SMR technology into the country’s energy mix. Also, with support from the USTDA, Poland has begun front-end engineering and design studies to develop the country’s first ever nuclear power plant. The urgency to decommission as many fossil fuel plants as possible and the rapidly growing global population have demanded each continent find energy sources that are clean, affordable and sustainable. Being clean, lasting and cost-effective, perhaps nuclear power is the key to European energy security. June 6, 2022 0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
