Residues to Energy: A Study on Improving the Renewable Energy Mix in Nigeria

Abstract

The quest for the reduction of global warming which is largely associated with Carbon IV Oxide emission and the reduction of the dependency on fossil fuels for energy generation is a continuous task. Biofuels are coming in to fill the gap with the potential of reduced emissions and being renewable. While biofuels feedstock at times can compete with food cultivation for land and water, some feedstock is just allowed to rot away as wastes and some of such in Nigeria are Mango seeds, African Star Apple seeds, Orange peel and African Pear. This result in environmental pollution and economic loss. The current fraction of renewable energy in Nigeria annual energy production is negligible, and its fraction in the consumed energy is about 3%. This narrative can change with the exploration of her vast agricultural residues. This study seeks to explore some agricultural residues in Nigeria and waste oil, determine their suitability in the generation of energy when converted to biodiesel, and the conversion of biodiesel residue to energy resources. The enormous amount of agricultural residues in Nigeria can be put into use in the generation of biodiesel with comparable favourable characteristics with petroleum diesel and biodiesel wastes also into useful energy sources resulting in a cleaner environment and revenue generation. It is projected that the percentage contribution of renewables to produced energy will be 19% and 47% for her energy consumption.