GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF UTILIZATION AND ACCESS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

1.1 Introduction

Renewable energy is defined as energy that is collected from natural resources. Recently there has been growing interest in renewable energy and it has become one of the main sources of energy generation (Azocleantech, 2021). The term energy can be generally defined as the amount of force or power when applied can move one object from one position to another, or it defines the capacity of a system to do the work. The energy can have many forms such as kinetic, potential, electromagnetic, nuclear, sound, light or photo-energy, and gravitational.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Renewable energies represent a broad and diverse array of energy resources- biomass, hydro, geothermal, wind, solar and ocean energy as well as range of conversion processes and application such as combustion, thermal, mechanical, photovoltaic processes, etc. Apart from obvious emission control advantages, renewable energy technologies can also make a significant contribution to domestic energy security and spur economic development (Sawin, Adib & Chawla 2012).

The Nigerian energy sector has changed fundamentally in recent years. The Nigerian Government has made it clear that it seeks to deregulate and restructure the sector, with the goal to completely unbundle the oil and gas sec- tor and to privatise the power sector. An indication of this approach was the withdrawal of a large percentage of the subsidy on petrol in January 2012, following the de- regulation of the diesel market in summer 2009, in an effort to free up revenue for infrastructure investments.

Renewable energy support policies continue to be a driving force behind the increasing shares of renewable energy. As many as 118 countries, more than half of which are developing countries, have had renewable energy targets in place by early 2012, and 109 countries have had policies to support renewable in the power sector.

The year 2011 saw the reorientation of future energy policy in many countries in the wake of the tragic nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. Despite the economic uncertainty of the present, global investment in renewable power and fuel has increased by 17% and renewable energy continues to grow strongly in all the end use sectors- power, heating, cooling, and transports.

A main driver propelling policy forward is the potential of renewable energy to create jobs. Globally, an estimated 5 million people work directly or indirectly with renewable energy industries. More and more governments around the world acknowledge the benefits of renewable energy along with energy efficiency as central elements of any green energy economy strategy (Sawin et al. 2012, 37-39).

Renewable forms of energy are also increasingly viewed as critical for providing access to energy, particularly in rural areas of the developing world. Renewable energy is now seen as a viable option for providing millions of people with a better quality of life. Although there is a long way to go to provide energy for all, today more people than ever before derive energy from renewables as capacity continues to grow, prices continue to fall, and shares of global energy from renewables continue to increase (Sawin et al. 2012, 37-39).

The energy situation in West Africa, specifically in the area of renewable energy and human development, is highly diverse areas complex. Therefore, any initiative in the sector must start with a strong understanding of the region and its dynamics must also take into account different aspects of development, from the local to the regional level (Ferrenbach 2012). There is a huge technically and economically feasible potential for renewable energy development in West Africa. These resources are generous and well distributed among the countries. The overall assessments provide only general information on the potential. Site specific surveys and measurements are required to verify the seasonal variation of wind regimes and to determine the financial viability of the potential.

Therefore, in Kankiya Town, Kaduna State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Geographical Analysis of Access and Utilization of Renewable Energy.

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1.3 Statement of Problem

Investigation reveals the problems of the Geographical Analysis of Access and Utilization of Renewable Energy in Kankiya Town, Kaduna State research work, which is stated as follows:

1. Availability of Power: One of the biggest concerns in the field of renewable energy is power generation depending on natural resources that are uncontrollable by humans. For example, solar powered electricity is generated only when sunshine is available and turns off at night; wind energy also depends on the availability of wind, so if the wind speed is very low, the turbine will not turn, and this result in zero power flow to the grid. On the other hand, too much wind can damage the generator and therefore a delicate balance needs to be maintained in order to keep a consistent generation of energy. The uncertainty in energy production in renewable energy technologies is making integration more complex (Azocleantech, 2021).
2. Power Quality Issues: Consistently high power quality is needed to ensure stability and high efficiency of the network. The quality of the power supply allows the system to work well with high reliability and lower costs. On the other hand, poor power quality can have major adverse effects on the power grid as well as industrial processes. It can lead to high costs and equipment failure. Power quality problems include frequency disorder, voltage/current harmonics, low power factor, voltage variation and transmission lines transits (Azocleantech, 2021).
3. Resource Location: Most renewable energy plants that share their energy with the grid require large areas of space. In most cases, renewable energy sources are dictated by location which can be off-putting to users. Firstly, some renewable energy sources are simply not available in different regions. Secondly, the distance between the renewable energy source and the grid is a major aspect in term of cost and efficiency. In addition to this, renewable energy sources depend on weather, climate and geographical location, therefore meaning that one type of energy generation is not appropriate for the region (Azocleantech, 2021).
4. Information Barrier: While this area is improving, there is a lack of information and awareness about the benefits and need of renewable energy. Investment and capital allowances have been made available for the implementation of renewable energies. There is a clear need for government agencies to assist and advice applicants and potential recipients how to go about applying for renewable energy incentives (Azocleantech, 2021).
5. Cost Issue: The high initial cost of installation is one of the major hurdles in the development of renewable energy. Although the development of a coal plant requires about $6 per megawatt, it is known that wind and solar power plants also required high investment (Azocleantech, 2021).

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to perform a Geographical Analysis of Access and Utilization of Renewable Energy in Kankiya Town, Kaduna State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the current energy situation in Kankiya Town
2. To evaluate the energy situation in Kankiya Town and the current demand for electricity
3. To identify the renewable energy potential and most especially solar energy and its applications in Kankiya Town
4. To carry out market research of Kankiya Town and find out possible business prospect for Renewable Energy especially Solar Energy, clean water technology and its composite advantage for agriculture, waste management and salt production
5. To recommend a market entry plan for Kankiya Town energy market.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What are the business prospects of investing in renewable energy in Nigeria?
• What are the Nigeria’s electric power sector reforms and regulations?
• What are the solar energy applications in Nigeria?
• What are the economic benefits for Nigeria maximizing the use of Renewable Energy?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

H0: There is no significant impact in the Access and Utilization of Renewable Energy in Kankiya Town, Kaduna State

H1: There is significant impact in the Access and Utilization of Renewable Energy in Kankiya Town, Kaduna State

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1.7 Significance of Study

The transition to renewable energy is of utmost importance for the world at the moment as the issue of global warming has arisen. The population of the world has been increasing and developing countries are becoming more and more developed, the standards of living are rising, at the same time energy use and demand are increasing bringing about a climatic change and the inevitability of adopting renewable energy.

This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Geographical Analysis of Access and Utilization of Renewable Energy in Kankiya Town, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).