Abstract
Electricity outage is the main challenge facing the residential, commercial and industrial sectors in Nigeria. The country's electricity production is primarily from hydro and thermal sources, yet the available electricity output is far less than the demand. The shortfalls in electricity production and distribution in the residential and commercial sectors are the drive behind the off-grid power generation by individuals and corporate bodies in Nigeria. The off-grid power generation is mainly produced using gasoline/diesel generators which are not environmental friendlies and constitute an increase in the carbon footprint of the country. The use of off-grid power generators, also known as “backup generators” continues to grow, from slightly over 60% in 2002 to more than 80% in 2014, exposing the non-functional power sector in Nigeria. An average of 84% urban household depends on gasoline or diesel-powered generator for electricity supply while the rest live without electricity.
This paper's goal is to evaluate the alternative sources that could expedite electricity availability with less carbon footprint. In this study, clean energy - solar photovoltaic (PV cells) utilization prospects were investigated for the common types of residential buildings in Nigeria. Lastly, the prospects of utilizing solar energy in buildings are discussed with their economic and environmental benefits.