A Sustainable Electrical Energy Consumption and Production Development Pathway for Nigeria: A Case Study of Energy Recovery from Agro-forestry Wastes

A Case Study of Energy Recovery from Agro-forestry Wastes

Abstract

Nigeria is endowed with various conventional and non-conventional energy resources essential for a robust and rapid economic growth and development. However, there is a high degree of infrastructural deficiency in the economy particularly in the electricity sector. This study is an effort to carry out a quantification assessment of the sawdust and rice husk generated in the sawmills and ricemills respectively and their corresponding electrical energy potential in each of the identified clusters. Based on these potentials, the capacity of the power plant was determined. In addition, a load survey in the beneficiary area and the agro-forestry clusters themselves were conducted so as to identify potential site which is not far away from the fuel source for the location of the power plant. Finally, the study also carried out quantification of CO emission minimization capacity and economic gains from fuel displacement based on the usage 2 of sawdust and rice husk to generate electricity. Based on an estimated total volume of wood waste in excess of 212,220 3m (about 66,000 tons) per annum and at about 30% efficiency, about 8.0 MW of electric power will be generated with an annual electricity output of about 79,089.3 MWh. Similarly, based on the estimated 55,000 tonnes of annually generated rice husk, and at an overall plant efficiency of 20-24%, a 5 MW rice husk fired power plant is being proposed for ricemill clusters. In monetary term, diesel displaced by the sawdust based power plant is about N177 million (about US$1.3 million) while that of rice husk fired plant is in excess of N236 million (US$2 million) per annum for each of the clusters studied. In addition, CO emissions that will be saved through these projects have been estimated to be in excess 2 of 73,000 tons CO /year, making them good candidates for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects.