A review and appraisal of Nigeria's solar energy policy objectives and strategies against the backdrop of the renewable energy policy of the Economic Community of West African States

摘要

This work gives a critical overview of the current development of Nigeria?s solar energy policy and also discusses the motivations for further development. The policy objectives and the strategies of implementation were examined by unraveling the hidden meanings, seeking out the missing items, completing the partially articulated ideas and pointing out models for adoption. Recommendations were made regarding future revision of the objectives and strategies. Since the extant Nigeria?s National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy is moulded after the Renewable Energy Policy of Economic Community of West African States, recommendations and examples for improvement in the areas where Nigeria is not providing the expected regional leadership in solar energy integration were drawn from the regional policy document and from other exemplary countries. The recommendations were based on Nigeria?s current level and directions of technical expertise, material and data availability for the manufacture of solar devices to be designed to withstand Nigerian environmental conditions and the socioeconomic realities like the need for policy-driven business models, employment, enlightenment and empowerment of women groups. Policies on ways to stimulate solar technology business in Nigeria are missing in the national solar energy policy document and are, therefore, recommended in this work. The recommendations highlighted the already applicable provisions in the Renewable Energy Policy of Economic Community of West African States. Case discussions were used to justify the recommendations of community-shared business model for residential end users and clusters of small businesses in physical market places and energy management contract business model for big businesses.