FOOD SYSTEMS POLICY PRESCRIPTION BLOG SERIES (FSPPBS) Number 2
| Forms of Sustainable Energy and Food Security in Nigeria
By Imuetiyan Elizabeth Omo-Irabor, No Hunger Initiatives Food and Energy Policies Researcher. |
Sustainable energy sources are renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and biomass) which occur naturally and can meet our present energy needs without compromising the energy needs of future generations. Agriculture uses energy; as fuel to operate equipment, in the form of electricity or to carry out heating and cooling processes.
To promote food availability and enhance modern agriculture, the input of modern energy is required, hence the implementation of sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and even hydrogen energy should be further researched. Energy input to modern and sustainable agricultural production and processing systems is a key factor in moving beyond subsistence farming towards food security.
The various types of sustainable energy which can be incorporated in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to improve food security are as follows.
Figure 1: Forms of Sustainable Energy
- solar Energy: Solar energy is the oldest form of renewable energy sources; it is the energy gotten from the sun. Nigeria receives an optimal supply of solar radiation – 5.5 kilowatt hours per square meter unit [1]. The most common way it is used is by solar cells in which photovoltaic or photoelectric cells are used to convert light directly into electricity [2]. This form of energy can be used to power solar cookers, dryers for crops, machines for egg incubation and chick brooding, water heaters and many other processes which improve the processing of agricultural produce.
Figure 2: Solar Energy
2. Biomass Energy: Biomass is defined as living or recently dead organisms and any byproducts of those organisms, plant, or animal. It refers to crops, residues and other biological materials that can be used as a substitute for fossil fuels in the production of energy. It can be processed and used as biofuels to run farm machineries or biogas to produce electricity or for cooking. Biomass sources are abundantly available in all parts of Nigeria because it is basically waste product. The estimated overall value of Nigeria’s biomass resources is 200 billion kg/year which can generate 2.58 GJ of energy annually [3].
Figure 3: Biomass Energy
3. Hydro Power: Hydroelectric power comes from the natural flow of water. The energy is produced by the fall of water turning the blades of a turbine which is connected to a generator to produce electricity. The amount of energy produced depends on the volume of flow and head of the water. Hydroelectric systems vary in size and application. Micro-hydroelectric plants are the smallest and they generate between 1kW and 1MW of power which can be used in powering processing machines and small farming communities [4]. Since hydro power is gotten from water it would be suitable for use in the coastal parts of Nigeria.
Figure 4: Hydro Power
- Wind Energy: This form of energy is gotten from the kinetic energy in wind, and it depends on the speed of the wind. Nigeria has good wind resources over most of the country, although it is higher in the northern states. Northern states have wind speed which range from 4.0 – 7.5m/s and southern states range from 3.0 – 3.5m/s at 10m above ground level [5]. Wind energy can be used to turn turbine blades to produce electricity which is used for running farm machinery and pumps for irrigation.
Figure 5: Wind Energy
References
| 1 | T. N., A. B., S. I., M. I., L. A.M. and a. M. S.A., “Renewable Energy and Sustainable Food Security in Nigeria,” Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy, vol. 4, no. 4, 2013. |
| 2 | F. O. Olanrewaju, G. E. Andrews, H. Li and H. N. Phylaktou, “Bioenergy Potential in Nigeria,” Chemical Engineering Transactions, pp. 61-67, 2019. |
| 3 | A. S.M., N. Dash and A. Pradham, “Role of Renewable Energy on Agriculture,” International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Emerging Technologies, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 51-57, 2012. |
| 4 | O. O. Ajayi, “The Potential for Wind Energy in Nigeria,” Wind Engineering , pp. 303 -312, 2010. |
| 5 | J. R. Fisher, J. A. Finnell and B. D. Lavoie, “Renewable Energy in Agriculture: Back to the Future?,” Choices, 2006. |