Barriers for implementing solar energy initiatives in Nigeria: an empirical study
Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
ISSN: 2046-6099
Article publication date: 26 January 2021
Issue publication date: 22 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the abundant renewable energy potential in the Nigeria, the power-sector stakeholder has not paid attention to the prospect of the natural resources that can be accrued when it is properly harnessed. Although a very negligible fraction of the population has invested in solar photovoltaics (PVs) for home solution, the initiative was only made public commercialised under the public-private partnership (PPP) and the objectives of the Power Sector Reform Act. 2005. It is, therefore, aimed to investigate the causes and insight of the barriers that are responsible for the slow implementation of the solar energy initiative in the Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical study was performed in the Nigeria. The study was conducted qualitatively, through semi-structured face-to-face interviews of 25 participants. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, interpreted, coded, categorised into themes and analysed by content analysis.
Findings
The study reveals technological, financial, political and social barriers have been the reason for slowing down solar energy development in Nigeria. While the technical barrier is a challenge to the solar energy implementation, socio-cultural issues have also been an obstacle to the implementation process. It is suggested that, the stakeholders of the initiative endeavour to proffer sustainable policies to enable public and private promoters to be able to generate and distribute electricity through solar PV and to complement the inadequate conventional electricity sources from the grids.
Originality/value
The paper provides a richer insight into the understanding and awareness of barriers for implementing solar energy strategies in Nigeria.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the review team for their encouragement and guidance throughout the review process. The paper has significantly benefitted from their comments. The authors would also like to give their sincere thanks and appreciation to the interviewees that accepted to participate in the study.Funding: This research received PhD scholarship from Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigeria.
Citation
Abdullahi, D., Renukappa, S., Suresh, S. and Oloke, D. (2022), "Barriers for implementing solar energy initiatives in Nigeria: an empirical study", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 647-660. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-06-2020-0094
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited