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Electricity for low-power applications Micro Solar Lanterns for rural communities in Kenya
[top] [end]IntroductionEnergy is an essential ingredient in food production, processing, preservation, transportation and preparation. It is a basic need in the same way as food, shelter, clothing and water. Energy is consumed in many ways and in different forms throughout the entire food system from field preparation to food preparation in the home.One of the problems in Nigeria over the years has been the frequent increases in price and uncertain supplies of conventional energy sources such as petrol, firewood, kerosene, diesel, electricity, LPG and charcoal. As the prices of these fuels continue to escalate, renewable energy sources are fast becoming practical alternatives. [top] [end]Renewable energy sources in NigeriaA considerable amount of renewable energy sources have been known to exist in Nigeria for some time, yet a properly quantified assessment and development of these sources has never been carried out. Animal power, landfill gas, biomass, and windpower are practicable renewable energy sources that are available and applicable in food production and processing.
Nigeria by virtue of its position in the tropics is blessed with monthly sunshine hours varying between 88 hours to 255 hours. The extensive use of solar systems, although attractive in Nigeria, is not yet common due to high capital costs. However, development effort is going on worldwide to reduce the cost. Landfill gas from municipal wastes is another renewable resource that can be tapped for use, as municipal wastes abound in Nigeria and presently disposal is a problem. Generation of fuel from this waste will help to remove this environmental problem. High capital outlay and high technological requirements may be barriers, but it is a good source of energy for the future. Biofuel from animal wastes is another source which is currently playing a significant role in energy production all over the world and is one of the feasible sources of raw material for bio-methane production in Nigeria. The livestock population in Nigeria currently stands at 82 million chickens, 34 million goats, 14 million cattle, 3-5 million pigs and 22 million sheep. In Nigeria the use of biomass as fuel has not attracted any significant development though some research work has been done on biomethane technology. This technology is used in food processing operations such as roasting, heating, baking, frying etc. In Nigeria the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan is currently using pig waste to generate biomethane in a pilot processing plant. The market price and calorific value of biomethane as compared with some other fuels are presented in Table 1. A further advantage is the high quality natural fertilizer produced as a by-product. Water hyacinth and physic-nut trees are two of the energy crops that can be used as sources of biofuels. Water hyacinth is a water weed from which biomethane can be produced. Physic-nut trees are presently used as hedges and can also be grown on a large scale in plantations. Oil extracted from the nut has a calorific value of 9.47 kcal/kg. It can serve as an alternative to diesel oil which has a calorific value of 10.17 kcal/kg. Another technology under development is generating methane from oil cakes of physic-nut as a direct substitute to LPG. Table 1: Market price and calorific values of biomethane as compared with other fuels
[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 40: Household energy and health
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02 August 2007; Last edited:
04 December 2008; Version: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pagename: RenewableEnergySourcesInNigeria @HEDON: VEGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
