Evaluation of renewable energy resources potential for satisfying electricity needs in the Niger Delta Region

Abstract

The growing effects of global warming and sustainable energy production are a significant challenge in today's world. These challenges is more pre-eminent in growing economies and have remained so for many years, and might remain so for a foreseeable future if without any action. Nigeria is a growing economy that is endowed with ample energy resources. The conventional and renewable energy resources in Nigeria if adequately harnessed has the potential to meet the energy demand of both urban and rural Nigerians. Nevertheless, Nigeria has a low energy consumption rate when compared to other African countries. Nigeria's energy circumstance could best be seen as a country that is sustainably rich, yet lack power. Previous works have presented ways in which the available methods of harnessing sustainable energy sources can be improved. There are limited works on the feasibility of meeting energy demands for communities in the Nigeria Delta Region of Nigeria. In this work, the possibility of meeting the energy needs of Buguma a small community in the Niger Delta Region in a sustainable manner has been explored and presented. The primary goal of this work will be on the potentials of vast untapped renewable energy sources in Buguma. From the discussions presented in this work, it isimperativeto select and combine the available renewable energy resources carefully. This process must be planned and executed holistically to ensure that the unmet power needs in Buguma and possibly other developing communities can be addressed through a standalone system. The design and installation of a standalone system which can match the energy needs of Buguma and any other developing communities that are far from the existing national grids have been recommended.