International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 2, Issue 12, December-2011 1 ISSN 2229-5518 Study of Nigeria Energy Resources and Its Consumption Engr C.O Osueke (Ph.D), Engr C.A.K Ezugwu Abstract-This study focuses on Nigeria energy resources and its consumption. The present situation in Nigeria is that energy supply does not meet the energy demand. Energy is considered as the most important resources of any country. It is a well know n fact that high rate of industrial growth of a country is a function of the amount of energy available in that country and the extent to which the energy is utilized. In our study, we classified energy resources on their basis of renewability which are; renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Under renewable, we looked at w ind, solar, water, biomass, and under non-renewable, we looked at fossil fuels which includes; coal, oil and natural gas. Analysis of solar energy consumption to other forms of energy was carried out and the way in w hich PV cell can be applied in energy generation was also enumerated. We also conducted three separate studies that were used to determine the measurement of the average wind speed in Sokoto, Imo, and Borno State for period ranging from three to ten years. The factors that lead to the inability of Nigeria to explore her rich natural energy resources were examined. We analyzed the energy consumption by sector from 1999 to 2004 with household sector having the highest percentage of the nation’s total domestic energy consumption. The strategies for optimum exploitation of the natural resources in Nigeria w ere also enumerated, which if they are properly followed or implemented, w ill solve the problem of energy imbalance facing this nation. Index Terms—Renewable energy, Non renewable energy, Wind energy, Solar energy, Hydro energy, Biomass energy, Fossil fuel, Coal, Natural gas, Petroleum. —————————— —————————— 1 INTRODUCTION HE concept of ―resources‖ is a human centered concept. product had 41.23% share. This is an indication that the In other for something to be considered a resource, it T renewable energy used in the country is split essentially must be perceived to have value by humans. Energy is between hydroelectricity and traditional fuel wood [1]. fundamental to all human activities. Globally, more than 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity and 2.4 billion The Nigerian economy can be disaggregated into industry, are without modern energy sources for cooking and heating. transport, commercial, household and agricultural sector with Nigeria is an energy resource, rich country blessed with a lot household sector presently dominating energy consumption of resources such as solar, wind, biomass, crude oil, natural in Nigeria [2]. This makes it the most important energy sector gas and coal, yet an estimated number of 60-70% of Nigerians of the Nigerian economy. population does not have access to electricity. This simply means that Nigeria as the most populous country in sub- 2 CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL ENERGY Saharan Africa nearly one quarter of sub- Saharan African‘s RESOURCES IN NIGERIA population despite their huge National Energy resources had Nigeria energy resources can be classified on the bases of their not been able to harness them for proper development of the renewability as country. Nigeria Energy supply is at present almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels and firewood (conventional energy (1) Renewable sources) which are depleting fast. The 1995 distribution of (2) Non-renewable. energy consumption typified the current energy supply mix in the country which shows that the total energy consumption, Renewable energy sources are sources that can be the share of natural gas was 5.22%, hydroelectricity took replenished or produced quickly through natural processes. The rate at which they are used does not affect their 3.05%, fuel wood had a lion share of 50.45% and petroleum availability in future and as such cannot be exhausted. All the regions of the world have reasonable access to one or more forms of renewable energy supply because the resources are ———————————————— Engr C.O Osueke (Ph.D), Department of Mechanical and Production generally well distributed all over the world, even at wide Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu spatial and temporal variations [3] . Many of the renewable State, Nigeria. E-mail:[email protected]. Engr C.A.K Ezugwu, Department of Mechanical and Production resources can be depleted by human use, but may also be Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu replenished thus maintaining a flow. State, Nigeria. E-mail:[email protected]. IJSER © 2011 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 2, Issue 12, December-2011 2 ISSN 2229-5518 ―sitting‖ of the wind system is extremely important. In other for a wind powered system to be effective, a relatively consistent wind flow is required. Obstruction such as trees or hills can interfere with the rotors. Because of this, the rotors are usually placed on top towers to take advantage of the The types of Renewable energy resources that occur are as stronger winds available higher up. Furthermore, because follows: wind speed varies with temperature season, and time of day. All these must be considered when choosing a site for a wind (1) Wind Energy powered generator. Another important part of the wind (2) Solar Energy powered system is the battery. Since wind does not always (3) Hydro Energy blow consistently, it is important to have a backup system that (4) Biomass Energy. will provide energy. This can be done with generator that can store extra energy in a battery when the wind is very strong. Non-Renewable energy resources are resources that The minimum speeds that the wind can blow for a small cannot be produced, generated, grown or used on a scale that turbine is 36x10-7m/s and large plant require speed of 58x10- can sustain its consumption rate because they will not be 7m/s. available for future need once they are depleted. They are consumed much faster than nature can create them, thus their 2.1.1 Design Consideration rate of formation is extremely slow [4]. The type of Non- In regions with an adequate wind pressure, the amount of renewable energy resources that occur are as follows. potential power is dictated by the size of the windmill. Windmills vary in sizes. Small windmills can be used to pump (1) Coal. water or provide power for cooking and refrigeration. (2) Natural gas. Medium windmills provide electricity for one or more homes. (3) Petroleum. Large windmills or utility scale windmill are capable of providing power for entire communities. Often these large windmills are connected to a mini-grid as to reduce the overall 2.1 Wind Energy dependence on fossil fuels. Differences in atmospheric pressure due to difference in TABLE 1 temperature are the main cause of wind. Wind is powered by AVERAGE WIND SPEED DETERMINATION IN VARIOUS the sun. In fact all renewable energy and even energy in fossil PARTS OF NIGERIA fuels, ultimately comes from the sun. The sun heats our planet to different temperature variation in different places and at different times. This unequal distribution of heat is what creates wind as warm air rises and cooler air descends to fill the void thereby producing wind which is the ongoing movement of this air. As the sun warms the earth, it in turn, warms the air above it, making it less dense or lighter. As the light air rises, it The table above shows three separate studies that were creates a low pressure zone near the ground. Air from used to determine the measurement of the average wind surrounding cooler areas rushes into balance the pressure [5]. speed in the various parts of the country for period ranging These are called local winds. Temperature difference between from three to ten years. The table shows average wind speed the polar caps and equator, as well as the rotation of the earth, in three states of three regions. Sokoto in the northwest, Borno produce similar result on a global scale called prevailing state in the northeast, and Imo in the southeast. At wind speed winds. of 3.5m/s or greater, wind powered system can provide energy at cost cheaper than photovoltaic, diesel and grid Wind power system takes advantage of the power of extension, therefore making sokoto and Borno state ideal wind. Lunge blades or ―rotor‖, catch the wind and spin. In location for wind power system [6,7,8]. hydroelectric system, the spinning movement is transformed into electrical energy by the generator. The placement or IJSER © 2011 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 2, Issue 12, December-2011 3 ISSN 2229-5518 2.2 Solar Energy used, but starter batteries are already available in Nigeria due Nigeria is endowed with an annual average daily sunshine of to their use in cars. A deep cycle battery last between three 6.25 hours, ranging between about 3.5 hours at the coastal and eight years. The charge controller regulates the current areas and 9.0 hours at the far northern boundary and an added to and drawn from the battery in other to maximize the annual average daily solar radiation of about 5.25kw/m2/day battery lifetime and for user safety [10]. Because photovoltaic at the coastal area and 7.0kw/m2/day at the northern system produce a direct current, the inverter is necessary only boundary. Nigeria receives about 4.85×1012kwh of energy per if the end uses of electricity require an alternating current. day from the sun.