ISHAYA AJET HOSEA Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers, Research Papers

ISHAYA AJET HOSEA Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers, Research Papers ISHAYA AJET HOSEA 130151 Investing in Africa's Future Africa University, [A.U] Institute of peace, Leadership and governance, [I.P.L.G] Master's in Public Policy and Governance (MPPG) Mutare, Zimbabwe Policy Impact on the Environment ( PEP513 ) Lecturer: Mrs. Bere Question: Using a case study discuss renewable sources of energy explaining their limitations as alternatives sources of energy on the African continent: Case: Renewable Energy in Nigeria Sign.. Due Date: 30 March 2018 ABSTRACT All human activities be contingent on one form of energy or another. Energy cannot be created or destroy ed , but can only adjust from one form to a newer . It is a very important substance for economic development of any society or country. Energy is fundamental to human activities. Despite the importance of energy to socio-economic development, Nigeria has not been able to generate the minimum required amount of energy it needs f or her population of over 180 Million Renewable energy is derived from a source that can be regenerated within a reasonably short time through natural sources. These sources include Solar, Wind , Hydro, Biomass, Geothermal . Nigeria has set for herself the target of being within the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020, with the challenges of leadership problem , rising population, unemployment as well as low access to energy and the challenges of climate change. Development and sustenance of renewable energy have been identified to be the most suitable . Energy from these renewable sources can be transformed to supplement the final energy from conventional energy needed to grow the e conomy in a sustainable manner. Keywords: Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biomass, Geothermal INTRODUCTION Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human time scale such as Sunlight, Wind, Rain, Tides, Waves and Geothermal heat (Donald, 2016) . Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas; electricity generation, hot water, motor fuels and rural energy services. According to (Armstrong, 2016) r apid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency is resulting in significant energy security, climate change mitigation and economic benefits. In international public opinion surveys, there is strong support for promoting renewable sources such as Solar power and Wind power. At national level, at least 30 nations around world already have renewable energy contributing more than 20 percent of energy supply (Amory, 2016) . National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decade and beyond. While many renewable energy projects are large-scale , renewable technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas and developing countries, where energy is often crucial in human development. United Nation's secretary general Ban Ki-moon has restated that renewable energy has the ability to lift the poorest nations to new levels of prosperity (Leone, 2011) . RENEWABLE ENERGY, GREEN POWER AND CONVENTIONAL POWER- SEE THE DIFFERENCE Renewable Energy Renewable energy includes resources that rely on fuel sources that restore themselves over short periods of time and do not diminish. Such fuel sources include sun, wind, moving water, organic plant and waste material (eligible biomass) and the earth's heat (geothermal). Although, the impacts are small, some renewable energy technologies have an impact on the environment al trade-offs associated with issues such as fisheries and land use. Green Power Green power is a subset of renewable energy and represents those renewable energy resources and technologies that provide the highest environmental benefits. Green power is defined as electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass and low-impact small hydroelectric sources. People often buy into green power for avoided environmental impacts/pollution and its greenhouse gas reduction benefits. Green power sources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies and produce no fossil-fuel based greenhouse gas emission. Environmental power assessment (EPA) requires that green power sources must also have been built within the last 15 years in order to support NEW' renewable energy development. Conventional Power Conventional power includes the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) and the nuclear fission of uranium. Fossil fuels have environmental costs from mining, drilling or extraction and emit greenhouse gases and air pollution during combustion (Agency International Energy, 2006) . Although, nuclear power generation emits