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News
Omet Solar Technology Brings Electricity wherever it is needed...
Energy poverty’ is a particularly common characteristic of developing economies of the world. Most of the inhabitants rely on other cheap and easily available alternatives such as kerosene lamps, coal/wood burning or use of small generators to meet their daily energy needs. However, the problems with these forms of energy are that they are fossil based; not sustainable or renewable.
Energy is essential for modern daily living, and in the life of every nation. It is essential for pumping water, Transportation, telecommunications, computers and house hold appliances. In particular, electrical energy is also essential for the development of rural communities: for local business, education (powering computing and lighting), and health clinics. ‘Energy poverty’ is a particularly common characteristic of developing economies of the world. Most of the inhabitants rely on other cheap and easily available alternatives such as kerosene lamps, coal/wood burning or use of small generators to meet their daily energy needs. However, the problems with these forms of energy are that they are fossil based; not sustainable or renewable.
Nuclear and coal fired electricity generating plants are two other alternative available to the developed world. However, these are both out of reach of most developing countries because available technologies are either too expensive or polluting to make sustainable economic and/or environmental sense. The last few years had seen people’s awareness of a number of low carbon, low cost, renewable and sustainable forms of energy capable of providing ‘green’ energy access whilst contributing to acleaner environment. Of these, wind, solar, tidal, hydro, bio mass and geo-thermal energy are now recognised as viable ‘renewable energy’ forms which are “……..continuous or repetitive forms of energy
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recurring in the natural environment (Twidell and Weir, 1986), and providing “energy flows which are replenished at the same rate as they are used”(Godfrey Boyle ,2004). The availability of technology to exploit these new energy forms presents a unique opportunity for low cost electricity energy supply in countries like Nigeria where irregular electricity supply is a major problem. Here power overloads and fluctuations or in some cases total power cut, are common because Nigeria currently produces lower than the required electricity output. The results of a recent study carried out by S A Sambo(2008) showed that the projected electricity demand in Nigeria, for 2008 was about 20 mega watts (Sambo, A. 2008). The study further revealed that the current installed electricity capacity is only about 6mega watts but dues to inefficiency only about 4.5 mega watts were actually supplied during 2008. Consequently, only 40 percent of Nigerians have access to electricity, and the majority of these are concentrated in urban areas.
Most industrial and private sector power needs are satisfied through the use of privately operated diesel generators. It is estimated that approximately 5.9 to 7 gigawatt of electricity can be generated from this source, which still leaves a large portion of the electricity power demand unsatisfied.
The increased population growth had lead to generation of more domestic and industrial waste in major cities of Nigeria. Most governmental agencies lack the competence to tackle the present waste management problems, which are often dumped in public places with unpleasant health and environmental consequence. Therefore the aim of this research is to investigate the feasibility for better management of the collection and disposal of domestic refuse with a view to generating electricity from this type of waste. |
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