Abstract

As a result of the worsening energy crisis prompted by unreliable electricity and unaffordable petroleum products, coupled with the increased number of poverty-stricken people in Nigeria, the citizens are desperately in need of alternative energy supplies that will replace or compliment the existing energy sources. Previous efforts by the government in tackling the challenge by citizenship sensitisation of the need for introduction of biofuel into the country’s energy mix have not yielded the expected results because of a lack of sustained government effort. In view of above limitations, this study assesses the current potential of available biomass feedstock for biogas production and utilisation in Nigeria, and further proposes appropriate biogas plants, depending on feedstock type and quantity for six the geopolitical zones of Nigeria. In addition, the study proposes government driven biogas development and dissemination systems that could be effectively used to harness, using biogas technology, 270 TWh of potential electrical energy from 181 million tonnes of available biomass. This will largely advance electricity generation and consequent improvement of welfare in Nigeria.

Author- Dr Lamin, Mohammed K. Co Author — Chibueze Hyfinus Ani