Nuclear Energy : a viable option for an uninterrupted electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa using Nigeria as a case study
- Ayo-Imoru, Ronke, Ali, Ahmed A., Bokoro, Pitshou N.
- Authors: Ayo-Imoru, Ronke , Ali, Ahmed A. , Bokoro, Pitshou N.
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Energy mix , Nigeria , Nuclear energy
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/489483 , uj:44632 , Citation: Ayo-Imoru, R., Ali, A.A. & Bokoro, P.N. 2021. Nuclear Energy : a viable option for an uninterrupted electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa using Nigeria as a case study.
- Description: Abstract: More than 770million people in the world have no access to electricity and Africa alone has about 580 million people out of these numbers. Although half of the world’s energy resources is found in the African continent, there is still a prevailing crisis in terms of access to electricity and unstable power supply mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is a serious setback to the 7th sustainable development goal of universal access by 2030.The major need of the continent is an immediate huge consistent source of energy which can be easily achieved with nuclear technology. Nuclear energy does not only provide excessive amount of energy, but it also provides affordable and clean energy which is in line with the 13th sustainable development goal of “taking action to combat climate change”. Nuclear technology also provides other enormous benefits in areas like agriculture, water desalination, medicine, and archaeology. The aim of this research is to investigate the factors causing epileptic power supply in Sub-Saharan Africa focussing on how nuclear technology can be a potential solution. This investigation is carried out based on data from Africa’s most populous nation Nigeria. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The data obtained were used to make the energy profile using energy modelling tools. In this research the electricity demand and supply in Nigeria was investigated and factors causing the lack of electricity outlined. The possibilities of nuclear energy being employed and factors that affect the use of nuclear energy in Sub-Saharan Africa were considered. Furthermore, the question of how nuclear energy can be a way out of darkness for Sub-Saharan Africa was discussed. Factors to be put into consideration in harnessing nuclear energy were considered. The factors outlined include more effort to be geared towards public acceptance and education, collaborations of various institution to achieve the required human resource development, compliance with global best practises, upgrade of which include the grid and a strong government commitment in including nuclear energy into the energy mix. The challenges involved in harnessing nuclear energy were also considered and suggestions proffered. Some of the challenges that were outlined are: how the existing grid size could accommodate the Nuclear Power Plants (NPP), suggestions of possibilities of considering smaller infrastructure capacity NPPs like Small Modular Reactors (SMR) were proffered. The stance of most African nation of having great untapped renewable energy resource as a reason for not employing nuclear energy was addressed. Compared to renewable energy sources, nuclear energy provides cheaper and stable electricity for baseload which is a driver for industrialisation unlike renewables that provides intermittent electricity which is dependent on different non constant factors. It was concluded that Sub-Saharan Africa can have an uninterrupted electricity if the potentials in nuclear energy is harnessed and included into her energy mix.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ayo-Imoru, Ronke , Ali, Ahmed A. , Bokoro, Pitshou N.
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Energy mix , Nigeria , Nuclear energy
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/489483 , uj:44632 , Citation: Ayo-Imoru, R., Ali, A.A. & Bokoro, P.N. 2021. Nuclear Energy : a viable option for an uninterrupted electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa using Nigeria as a case study.
- Description: Abstract: More than 770million people in the world have no access to electricity and Africa alone has about 580 million people out of these numbers. Although half of the world’s energy resources is found in the African continent, there is still a prevailing crisis in terms of access to electricity and unstable power supply mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is a serious setback to the 7th sustainable development goal of universal access by 2030.The major need of the continent is an immediate huge consistent source of energy which can be easily achieved with nuclear technology. Nuclear energy does not only provide excessive amount of energy, but it also provides affordable and clean energy which is in line with the 13th sustainable development goal of “taking action to combat climate change”. Nuclear technology also provides other enormous benefits in areas like agriculture, water desalination, medicine, and archaeology. The aim of this research is to investigate the factors causing epileptic power supply in Sub-Saharan Africa focussing on how nuclear technology can be a potential solution. This investigation is carried out based on data from Africa’s most populous nation Nigeria. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The data obtained were used to make the energy profile using energy modelling tools. In this research the electricity demand and supply in Nigeria was investigated and factors causing the lack of electricity outlined. The possibilities of nuclear energy being employed and factors that affect the use of nuclear energy in Sub-Saharan Africa were considered. Furthermore, the question of how nuclear energy can be a way out of darkness for Sub-Saharan Africa was discussed. Factors to be put into consideration in harnessing nuclear energy were considered. The factors outlined include more effort to be geared towards public acceptance and education, collaborations of various institution to achieve the required human resource development, compliance with global best practises, upgrade of which include the grid and a strong government commitment in including nuclear energy into the energy mix. The challenges involved in harnessing nuclear energy were also considered and suggestions proffered. Some of the challenges that were outlined are: how the existing grid size could accommodate the Nuclear Power Plants (NPP), suggestions of possibilities of considering smaller infrastructure capacity NPPs like Small Modular Reactors (SMR) were proffered. The stance of most African nation of having great untapped renewable energy resource as a reason for not employing nuclear energy was addressed. Compared to renewable energy sources, nuclear energy provides cheaper and stable electricity for baseload which is a driver for industrialisation unlike renewables that provides intermittent electricity which is dependent on different non constant factors. It was concluded that Sub-Saharan Africa can have an uninterrupted electricity if the potentials in nuclear energy is harnessed and included into her energy mix.
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Investigating the potential role of nuclear energy in promoting regional economic development in SADC
- Authors: Shezi, Wandile S.
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community , Economic development - Africa, Southern , Energy development - Africa, Southern , Nuclear energy
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/485001 , uj:44070
- Description: Abstract: It can be argued that there is no such thing as a benign energy project. The only question that matters is whether it is environmentally more sustainable. The ability to generate surplus energy can serve any state as a commodity that not only assists the state itself, but also its neighbouring states in the developmental region. Africa has a long history of a lack of access to modern energy services, therefore limiting development. Coal-fired energy is regarded as a carbon intensive resource in a world that increasingly seeks environmentally safe ways to generate energy. In this dissertation, nuclear energy is argued to be one of the solutions to the baseload conundrum in the Southern African Development Community. Nuclear energy complements the global initiative towards the decreasing of greenhouse gas emissions. The sustainability of the energy mix is imperative in ensuring socio-economic development, which positively contributes to the state’s gross domestic product. , M.A. (Politics)
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- Authors: Shezi, Wandile S.
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community , Economic development - Africa, Southern , Energy development - Africa, Southern , Nuclear energy
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/485001 , uj:44070
- Description: Abstract: It can be argued that there is no such thing as a benign energy project. The only question that matters is whether it is environmentally more sustainable. The ability to generate surplus energy can serve any state as a commodity that not only assists the state itself, but also its neighbouring states in the developmental region. Africa has a long history of a lack of access to modern energy services, therefore limiting development. Coal-fired energy is regarded as a carbon intensive resource in a world that increasingly seeks environmentally safe ways to generate energy. In this dissertation, nuclear energy is argued to be one of the solutions to the baseload conundrum in the Southern African Development Community. Nuclear energy complements the global initiative towards the decreasing of greenhouse gas emissions. The sustainability of the energy mix is imperative in ensuring socio-economic development, which positively contributes to the state’s gross domestic product. , M.A. (Politics)
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South Africans’ willingness to pay for renewable and nuclear energy to avoid power outages
- Authors: Nkosi, Nomsa Phindile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Electric power failures - South Africa , Electric power failures - Economic aspects , Renewable energy sources , Nuclear energy
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124244 , uj:20894
- Description: Abstract: At the end of 2007, as electricity demand surpassed supply, South Africa began experiencing widespread blackouts. Given the threat this posed to the national grid, ‘load shedding’ was introduced. Losses due to power outages are often associated with industry and business; but households too are end users of electricity, and their welfare is negatively affected by power outages, the result of increased electricity dependence over the years. South African households – like households in many developing countries – are faced with regular power outages. This is a serious problem, since the outages that households experience are both frequent and long in duration. Despite the efforts of all concerned, South African households will continue to face electricity supply challenges for the foreseeable future. The primary objective of this study is to quantify household’s willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid power outages. The second objective is to estimate households’ WTP for nuclear-generated energy. The third objective is to assess the level of support for renewable energy. In this study, the contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to elicit outage costs, to estimate WTP for South Africa’s proposed second nuclear power plant, and to identify the determinants of support for renewable energy. Face-to-face surveys were undertaken around Gauteng province, as well as in areas in close proximity to the proposed Thyspunt nuclear power plant in the Eastern Cape province. The surveys were conducted using electronic equipment (devices, or tablets) rather than the orthodox paper method. This analysis of power outages caters for different outage situations, including planned and unplanned outages, summer and winter outages, peak and off-peak outages, and weekday and weekend outages. Models used to assess the determinants of WTP to avoid power outages were the random parameter Tobit model, the standard Tobit model, and the Spike model, consisting of a probit model followed by a truncated regression model. With a few exceptions, all the outage scenarios’ estimated parameters are significant at the one percent level, except for the off-peak scenario. The coefficients of all the slopes are positive, meaning that on average, costs are higher for planned outages, during winter, during peak times, and on weekdays. Moreover, WTP increases with duration, which was expected. Overall, WTP is driven mainly by duration of power outage, and by seasonality... , M.Com. (Economics)
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- Authors: Nkosi, Nomsa Phindile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Electric power failures - South Africa , Electric power failures - Economic aspects , Renewable energy sources , Nuclear energy
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124244 , uj:20894
- Description: Abstract: At the end of 2007, as electricity demand surpassed supply, South Africa began experiencing widespread blackouts. Given the threat this posed to the national grid, ‘load shedding’ was introduced. Losses due to power outages are often associated with industry and business; but households too are end users of electricity, and their welfare is negatively affected by power outages, the result of increased electricity dependence over the years. South African households – like households in many developing countries – are faced with regular power outages. This is a serious problem, since the outages that households experience are both frequent and long in duration. Despite the efforts of all concerned, South African households will continue to face electricity supply challenges for the foreseeable future. The primary objective of this study is to quantify household’s willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid power outages. The second objective is to estimate households’ WTP for nuclear-generated energy. The third objective is to assess the level of support for renewable energy. In this study, the contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to elicit outage costs, to estimate WTP for South Africa’s proposed second nuclear power plant, and to identify the determinants of support for renewable energy. Face-to-face surveys were undertaken around Gauteng province, as well as in areas in close proximity to the proposed Thyspunt nuclear power plant in the Eastern Cape province. The surveys were conducted using electronic equipment (devices, or tablets) rather than the orthodox paper method. This analysis of power outages caters for different outage situations, including planned and unplanned outages, summer and winter outages, peak and off-peak outages, and weekday and weekend outages. Models used to assess the determinants of WTP to avoid power outages were the random parameter Tobit model, the standard Tobit model, and the Spike model, consisting of a probit model followed by a truncated regression model. With a few exceptions, all the outage scenarios’ estimated parameters are significant at the one percent level, except for the off-peak scenario. The coefficients of all the slopes are positive, meaning that on average, costs are higher for planned outages, during winter, during peak times, and on weekdays. Moreover, WTP increases with duration, which was expected. Overall, WTP is driven mainly by duration of power outage, and by seasonality... , M.Com. (Economics)
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Impacts of primary energy constraints in the 21st century
- Authors: Nel, Willem P.
- Date: 2010-03-25T06:25:17Z
- Subjects: Energy conservation , Energy development , Power resources , Fossil fuels , Nuclear energy , Sustainable development , Economic development , Global warming
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6691 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3094
- Description: D.Phil. , Global society has evolved into a complex multi-dimensional system in which it has become increasingly difficult to construct and maintain a systemic model of cause and effect. Specialisation and abstraction in the various disciplines of scientific and societal complexity has led to divergent theories of sustainability. Failure to integrate real life problems across disciplines poses a threat to modern society because the causal links between disciplines are unattended in many instances and events in one dimension could lead to catastrophic unintended consequences in another. In light of the above, this thesis contributes towards the multi-disciplinary integration of some of the most important sustainability concerns of modern society, namely Energy Security, Economic Growth and Global Warming. Analysing these real-life sustainability issues in a multi-disciplinary context leads to conclusions that are controversial in terms of established philosophical worldviews and policy trends. Firstly, the thesis establishes deterministic expectations of an imminent era of declining Energy Security resulting from the exhaustion of non-renewable fossil fuel resources, despite optimistic expectations of technology improvements in alternative energy sources such as renewable and nuclear. Secondly, the exhaustion of non-renewable fossil fuel resources imposes limits to the potential sources of anthropogenic carbon emissions that render the more pessimistic emissions cases considered in the global warming debate irrelevant. The lower level of attainable carbon emissions challenges the merits of the conventional carbon feedback cycle with the result that the predicted global warming is within acceptance limits of the contemporary global warming debate. Thirdly, the consequences of declining Energy Security on socio-economic welfare is a severe divergence from historical trends and demands the reassertion of the role of energy in human development, including Economic Growth theory. The thesis develops a novel economic growth model that treats energy as an explicit and Autonomous Factor of Production, thereby facilitating plausible predictions of future Economic Growth potential. The results challenge the sustainability of the current free-market capitalist economic system and demand strong policy responses to avoid the collapse of modern society.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nel, Willem P.
- Date: 2010-03-25T06:25:17Z
- Subjects: Energy conservation , Energy development , Power resources , Fossil fuels , Nuclear energy , Sustainable development , Economic development , Global warming
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6691 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3094
- Description: D.Phil. , Global society has evolved into a complex multi-dimensional system in which it has become increasingly difficult to construct and maintain a systemic model of cause and effect. Specialisation and abstraction in the various disciplines of scientific and societal complexity has led to divergent theories of sustainability. Failure to integrate real life problems across disciplines poses a threat to modern society because the causal links between disciplines are unattended in many instances and events in one dimension could lead to catastrophic unintended consequences in another. In light of the above, this thesis contributes towards the multi-disciplinary integration of some of the most important sustainability concerns of modern society, namely Energy Security, Economic Growth and Global Warming. Analysing these real-life sustainability issues in a multi-disciplinary context leads to conclusions that are controversial in terms of established philosophical worldviews and policy trends. Firstly, the thesis establishes deterministic expectations of an imminent era of declining Energy Security resulting from the exhaustion of non-renewable fossil fuel resources, despite optimistic expectations of technology improvements in alternative energy sources such as renewable and nuclear. Secondly, the exhaustion of non-renewable fossil fuel resources imposes limits to the potential sources of anthropogenic carbon emissions that render the more pessimistic emissions cases considered in the global warming debate irrelevant. The lower level of attainable carbon emissions challenges the merits of the conventional carbon feedback cycle with the result that the predicted global warming is within acceptance limits of the contemporary global warming debate. Thirdly, the consequences of declining Energy Security on socio-economic welfare is a severe divergence from historical trends and demands the reassertion of the role of energy in human development, including Economic Growth theory. The thesis develops a novel economic growth model that treats energy as an explicit and Autonomous Factor of Production, thereby facilitating plausible predictions of future Economic Growth potential. The results challenge the sustainability of the current free-market capitalist economic system and demand strong policy responses to avoid the collapse of modern society.
- Full Text:
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