On energy for sustainable development in Nigeria

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 2583 - 2598
• Main Author: Oyedepo, Sunday Olayinka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; developing countries; Efficient energy; Energy; Energy conservation; energy policy; Exact sciences and technology; fuels; manufacturing; pollution; Renewable energy; renewable energy sources; residential housing; RETs; social welfare; Sustainable development; Sustainable energy; transportation; Nigeria; Renewable energy; Energy; RETs; Energy conservation; Efficient energy; Sustainable energy; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.010

The fuel driving the engine of growth and sustainable development of any nation is the nation's access to reliable and adequate energy. Access to energy is a crucial enabling condition for achieving sustainable development. Prudent energy policies and research can play an important role in steering both industrialized and developing countries onto more sustainable energy development paths. Specifically, they can strengthen the three pillars of sustainable development: the economy, by boosting productivity; social welfare, by improving living standards and enhancing safety and security; and the environment, by reducing indoor and outdoor pollution and remediating environmental degradation. Many factors that need to be considered and appropriately addressed in moving towards energy sustainability in Nigeria are examined in this article. These include full exploitation and promotion of renewable energy resources and application of energy conservation measures in various sectors such as manufacturing industrial set-up, office and residential buildings and transportation.