Expert urges government to focus on renewable energy

Williams made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.He said that government should champion efforts on the reduction of fossil fuels, to stem the long term impact on atmospheric temperature and ocean acid levels.“We are in a critical decade where global and national decisions on fossil fuels will determine long term temperature and […]

Williams made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
He said that government should champion efforts on the reduction of fossil fuels, to stem the long term impact on atmospheric temperature and ocean acid levels.
“We are in a critical decade where global and national decisions on fossil fuels will determine long term temperature and sea level increases and bio-diversity losses.
“To stabilise the climate at a manageable level, most of the world’s fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground.
“What we are doing with the world’s oceans, in terms of putting more carbondioxide into them, amounts to systemic poisoning.
“As we heat our oceans, we encourage coral bleaching and loss of species diversity,” he said.
Williams also said that winds and sunshine were used in most countries for the economic growth and development of such countries.
He said that renewable energy would help to supplement the basic needs of electricity and water supply, adding that there was need for diversification of the energy source.
The expert said that solar-powered electricity generation would help to tackle the problems of climatic change and assist the government to achieve a green economy.
He said that the huge demand for generators to bridge the nation’s electricity supply was dangerous to the health of Nigerians and the environment.
“If we continue this way in the next six or 10 years, we may not have a clean environment.
“Because of this, we need to find solutions from the alternative energy and other sources like bio-fuel and bio-ethanol, which can be used to generate electricity,” he said.
Williams said that if stakeholders in the private and public sectors would invest in renewable energy sources, the problem of inadequate electricity supply in the country would be solved.
“In the last 35 years, power supply in the country has been epileptic and in many areas across the nation, Nigerians have come to accept darkness as a way of life, ’’ he said.
The expert said that inadequate power supply had drastically affected the economy as many industries had to rely on diesel- powered generators to stay in business.
Williams said that while traditional energy providers had been slow to invest in renewable energy, wind and solar technology had reduced in cost and gained greater acceptance as alternative energy sources. (NAN)