Renewable Energy Masterplan Nigeria

Nigeria, the land of oil, gas and coal resources, is developing a Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP). Renewable energies ought to help improve the rural population’s access to modern energy, reduce the unsustainable use of firewood, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. As part of a joint project with the Goethe-Institut, ifeu provided specialist advice for the Nigerian energy experts in relation to the definition of objectives, the use of policy instruments, and capacity building.

The Renewable Energy Master Plan sets relatively ambitious objectives for 2015, including a 6% share of renewable energies in electricity production, 400,000 small solar cell plants, two million improved biomass stoves, and 600 small biogas plants.

However, the main obstacles in Nigeria are the extreme poverty, even in economically advantageous conditions of use, which makes capital-intensive investments more difficult, extreme corruption, a quasi non-existent manufacturing industry, and a very low level of knowledge in the craft sector.

ifeu energy expert Martin Pehnt (second from left): “The example of Germany demonstrates to the Nigerian government that it is possible to expand renewable energies dynamically within a short period of time. German companies must provide support and offer bespoke solutions.”