Access to Renewable Energy

Energy Cooking Stove. Photo: UNDP Nigeria

The energy sector is of strategic importance to the Nigerian economy, and a major driver for growth. It is a macro economic importance; it also has a major role to play in reducing poverty, improving productivity and enhancing the general quality of life of Nigerian People.
However, Nigeria is currently facing an energy crisis, with only 47% of the population having access to electricity; deficiencies in access to modern thermal and mechanical energy services, as well as insufficient public capitalization of the oil and gas production. There are important advantages to be gained from an increased access to renewable energy sources and services.
Expanding access to renewable energy services in rural and peri-urban areas is associated with a number of challenges, and innovative approaches have to be considered. The UNDP Access to Renewable Energy Programme focuses on increasing the national capacity to invest in and utilize renewable energy resources to improve the access to modern energy services for MSMEs. These are the services many Nigerian MSMEs either lack completely or access erratically through electricity grid which hampers their potential for growth.
The BOI/UNDP Access to Renewable Energy Project’s main focus is to increase the national capacity to invest in and utilize renewable energy resources to improve access to modern energy services for MSMEs and other households.
It also aims to build capacity in the business and financial sectors to incorporate renewable energy in business planning and development, and to support the evolution of renewable energy policy and public planning. It is aimed at building capacity of the following:
I.    MSMEs to incorporate renewable energy either as a business in and of itself, or as service for business development
II.    Financial Institutions to better understand and assess the credit and financial risks of renewable energy investments and services
III.    Government to develop and implement renewable energy policies and regulatory frameworks
Within the overall framework of increasing access to modern energy services, the strategy for the Access to Renewable Energy Programme comprise three outcome areas:
I.    Foster pro-development energy services by facilitating an expansion of renewable energy services accessible to MSMEs
II.    Support renewable energy investments by building up capacity within the financial sector as well as among users and providers of energy services
III.    Promote policies and institutional frameworks for an inclusive renewable energy market


source: undp