The Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Transitions (CREST), has urged the federal government to set clear goals on achieving sustainable energy to address the erratic power supply in the country.
The President elect of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences(NAS), Emeritus Prof. Abubakar Sambo, who spoke on Wednesday during the maiden international conference on renewal and sustainable energy systems organised by CREST at Bayero University Kano.
He emphasis the need for political will and determination to take action on utilizing the renewable energies the country is abundantly bless with.
“Countries set clear goals for megawatt production, identified sources to supply the megawatts, and provided the condusive environment for investors to move in the desired direction, guiding them to achieve the desired outcomes.
“Countries such as Ghana, cape Verde, Kenya, Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal whose government has enhance political will in electricity sector which has expand to greater electricity access”,he said.
He further explained that fossil energy resources such as coal, oil and natural gas which have been the dominant sources of energy for electrification, transportation and industrial production in the country are highly polluting and exhaustible with CO2 emission, complicating global warming and climate change which affects agriculture and food security.
Sambo added that there is need for investing and harnessing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass among others with a negligible greenhouse gases, noting that, it can boost energy supply, provide job opportunities and also create a sustainable environment.
He however tasked the federal government and other stakeholders on making realistic targets and providing the enabling environment for renewable energy to thrive.
On his part, CREST director, Prof. Nasiru Isa, said experts accross the world had come together to brainstorm on alternative and renewable energy requirement, generation and supply.
He said energy crisis in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, is severe as they are struggling to meet with the global requirement for energy per capita.
“We would explore green sources of energy including solar energy, biomass (waste energy), nuclear energy which are all considered a net zero carbon emitter and cleaner alternative to fossil fuels among others”,he said.