Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan into Low-Carbon Economy

Nigeria has struggled with unreliable electricity supply despite its rich energy resources. Grid failures and blackouts have been a common occurrence, underscoring the need for sustainable solutions like nuclear power plants and more renewable energy sources. This report provides an assessment of Nigeria's progress towards a low-carbon economy, with a focus on enhancing electricity generation and decreasing CO₂ emissions. To achieve these objectives, the Open-Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS) was used to evaluate three different scenarios: Business As Usual (BAU), 36% Renewable Energy Source Integration Scenario (RE36) by 2030, and Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) deployment by 2050. The primary goals of these scenarios are to increase electricity generation and access using renewable energy sources and further reduce emissions by integrating nuclear power plants. However, the integration of renewable energy sources and nuclear power generation, as demonstrated in the second and third scenarios, helped to address the challenges of insufficient power generation and reduce CO₂ emissions. The incorporation of 36% renewable energy sources and the inclusion of nuclear power plants in the second and third scenarios showcase the benefits of transitioning to an eco-friendlier energy mix and expanding the installed capacity to satisfy the growing demand for electricity in Nigeria. To achieve cost-effectiveness, it would be prudent for Nigeria to allocate a greater proportion of its investment towards nuclear power plants, as this would likely require less funding than renewable technologies.