Reducing Carbon Footprint Using Renewable Energy, Distributed Generation and Smart Government Policies

Abstract

With continued and increased global outcry to the insidious effects of continued exploitation of fossil fuels and gas flaringon the environment as evidenced by climate change, attention has in recent times be turned to alternative and more efficientmeans of energy generation that pose less threats or damage to the environment. Utilizing such alternative means of energygeneration has seen an increase in technological advancements as regards exploitation of such natural elements as sunlight,wind, tides, hydro etc. in meeting our varied energy demands. These alternative energy sources commonly referred to asrenewable energy sources (RES) now constitute the global trend as not only are they providing access to clean energy indistant and remote areas, but also redefining the way our electricity grid now works. With the enormous problems associatedwith centralized generation and transmission of electricity vis-à-vis line losses and system reliability, coupled with theinability of the grid to effectively cover every nook and cranny of the country, attention is being put on practical andeffective means and ways of integrating these RES into our electricity network. One of such means that have been evolved isDistributed Generation (DG) which seeks to decentralize electricity generation and displace demand by generating at loadcentres. Acting as stand-alone systems, their presence in Nigeria is gradually beginning to be felt. This paper seeks toexamine the impact of RES and DG in select cities around the world in addressing issues of poverty eradication, climatechange, transmission line losses etc., while also appraising the impact government policies have had in influencing theirgrowth. Existing policies on renewable energy and DG (if any) in Nigeria would be reviewed while solutions would also beproffered as Nigeria strives to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2015, especially endingextreme hunger and poverty.Keywords: insidious, environment, climate change, renewable energy, distributed generation, policies, poverty, hunger.