Blackout: A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Future

By Yakubu Sani Wudil On October 18, the Shiroro-Kaduna 330kV lines 1 and 2 were vandalised by bandits, crippling the power supply to 17 of the 19 northern states. For over a week, millions endured darkness and disruption in essential services, impacting economic activities, healthcare, education, and vital social infrastructure. The economic toll is likely […]

By Yakubu Sani Wudil

On October 18, the Shiroro-Kaduna 330kV lines 1 and 2 were vandalised by bandits, crippling the power supply to 17 of the 19 northern states. For over a week, millions endured darkness and disruption in essential services, impacting economic activities, healthcare, education, and vital social infrastructure. The economic toll is likely in the billions, with the region’s primary economic driver—the agricultural sector—hit hardest. Cold storage facilities, essential for preserving perishable goods, ceased functioning in many areas, leading to food spoilage, lost revenue, and threats to food security.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, informed the Senate Committee on Power that full restoration of power would be achieved by November 12, 2024. While the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has restored partial electricity to seven northern states (Lafia, Makurdi, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, and Gombe), the incident highlights a recurrent issue: Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure remains fragile and vulnerable. In a country where nearly 220 million people rely on a saturated and under-maintained power grid, the Shiroro-Kaduna incident exposes the government’s inadequate protection of critical infrastructure. The frequency of such incidents calls for intensified security measures and resilience planning across Nigeria’s energy sector.

As northern Nigeria recovers from this avoidable blackout, it is essential to examine the broader issues that contributed to this crisis. Renewable energy, with its potential to diversify and decentralize power generation, offers a strategic solution. Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuels has proven vulnerable to sabotage, environmental risks, and poor maintenance. Beyond these issues, non-renewable sources exacerbate climate change, hinder Nigeria’s climate commitments, and leave the grid exposed to energy insecurity. By contrast, renewable energy offers Nigeria a pathway to bolster both sustainability and energy security, reducing emissions and insulating critical infrastructure against disruptions.

Renewable energy can meet approximately 60% of Nigeria’s energy demand by 2050, as per the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). This shift could lower Nigeria’s dependence on oil by 65% and on natural gas by 40%. Projections suggest that renewables could constitute 47% of total energy demand by 2030 and up to 57% by 2040. Solar energy, with Nigeria’s abundant sunlight, stands out as a promising option, particularly in the northern region. Northern Nigeria benefits from intense sunlight levels, ranging between four to seven kilowatt-hours per square meter per day, which could be harnessed extensively to generate electricity. Solar power has the added benefit of scalability, from small off-grid systems in rural areas to large-scale solar farms.

Similarly, wind energy remains an untapped resource. Africa harnesses only 0.01% of its wind power potential, with South Africa leading at just over 3.4 gigawatts of wind capacity. Nigeria’s wind potential, especially in northern and offshore regions, offers untapped possibilities. The northeast, with its steady winds, could support consistent wind power generation. While wind energy has received less attention due to integration and technical challenges, a hybrid approach combining solar and wind could stabilise supply, with wind generation offsetting solar’s limitations during nighttime hours or overcast periods. These natural resources, harnessed efficiently, could reduce Nigeria’s energy insecurity and serve as a foundation for a resilient power grid.

One key component of any renewable energy transition is energy storage. Current lithium-ion battery technologies have limitations, including safety risks, raw material scarcity, and high costs. Global research is exploring alternatives like sodium-ion and solid-state batteries, which could provide safer, cost-effective options. Additionally, Nigeria must invest in building an energy workforce trained in renewable technologies. This means establishing training programs for engineers, technicians, and project managers who can develop, install, and maintain renewable infrastructure. Educational institutions and technical programs should emphasise skills for solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies.

Developing renewable infrastructure requires more than just panels and turbines; it also entails substantial investment in supporting facilities like storage sites, transmission lines, and backup systems. The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology should drive efforts to tailor renewable solutions to Nigeria’s specific climate and geographic challenges. Advancing energy storage solutions, bolstering grid resilience, and adapting solar panels and turbines to local conditions are necessary for sustained progress.

Nigeria should also tap into multilateral partnerships with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, and the Green Climate Fund, which provide financing and expertise for renewable projects across Africa. These organisations already have track records of supporting renewable initiatives, and Nigeria could benefit from additional financing and technological support. Collaborative agreements with countries excelling in renewables, such as Germany for solar energy or Denmark for wind, could facilitate technology transfers, training exchanges, and workshops to upskill local professionals.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have already begun to foster renewable development in Nigeria. For instance, in 2021, PowerGen, in collaboration with EDFI ElectriFI and other investors, connected over 55,000 rural Nigerians to electricity through grant support from the Nigeria Rural Electrification Agency’s Electrification Project. Similar PPPs should be encouraged to expand renewable energy access nationwide, particularly in underserved areas. The World Bank-backed Nigeria Electrification Project and programs at northern universities like Bayero University Kano (BUK) demonstrate the viability of solar installations for institutional and rural applications.

To succeed, Nigeria’s renewable energy goals require robust policies and regulatory reforms. While Nigeria has set ambitious targets, such as a 30% renewable energy mix by 2030 under the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP), progress remains slow. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, regulatory inconsistencies, and limited incentives hinder implementation. Nigeria needs to streamline regulatory processes, create clear fiscal incentives, and promote low-interest financing to attract private investments in renewables. The Electricity Act of 2023 provides a promising framework by allowing states to facilitate renewable energy distribution and mini-grid development. State governments should capitalise on this Act to create favourable environments for renewable energy investments.

State governments, empowered by the Electricity Act, can play a pivotal role by enacting supportive policies, such as feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, and mini-grid licenses. These incentives can encourage private sector participation, helping to mobilise capital for renewable projects. Moreover, establishing a renewable energy advisory council, comprising experts in energy technology, finance, and policy, could guide policymakers toward practical, impactful renewable strategies. For states in the north, particularly Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi, renewable energy projects can meet substantial local electricity demands and attract private investment.

Incorporating renewable energy requires empowering communities with decentralised solutions. Mini-grids and solar home systems provide a cost-effective means of delivering electricity to rural areas that are beyond the reach of Nigeria’s central grid. Decentralised solutions reduce dependency on the national grid, offering a safeguard against outages. Critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools in rural areas, could particularly benefit from dedicated renewable systems. By promoting off-grid renewable solutions, Nigeria can build resilience against future blackouts and expand energy access to underserved populations.

The northern blackout indicates the need for Nigeria to take bold and calculated steps toward a renewable energy future. The government, private sector, and civil society must work together to develop a multi-faceted approach to energy production, one that balances immediate needs with long-term sustainability. By diversifying its energy sources, investing decentralised solutions, and fostering a regulatory environment conducive to renewable development, Nigeria can mitigate the risks of blackouts and build a more resilient energy system. These initiatives would also lessen the demand on the national grid, allowing for more capacity as needed by other regions. The journey may be arduous, but the potential for growth, resilience, and energy security makes the pursuit of renewable energy a vital step toward a brighter and more sustainable future for all Nigerians.

Dr. Yakubu Sani Wudil is an Associate Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Materials, Saudi Arabia. He holds a doctorate in Renewable Energy and is the founder of Arewa Youth Mentorship Program