Centralized Grid electricity and distributed electricity: A case study of Nigeria

The push for the liberalization of the electricity market and the concern over climate change is an impetus for the call to a paradigm shift in electricity generation mode. Electricity generation can either be centralized or distributed. The major selling points for distributed electricity generation are energy security and greenhouse gas reduction. However, some other factors weigh an impact on electricity generation. Nigeria is a country battling to meet the electricity demand of its populace. Some of the identified factors are localized to Nigeria to come up with a suitable generation model. This study considers factors such as energy security and reliability, environmental impact, energy efficiency, cost, and rural electrification. These factors led to a basis to propose a suitable generation model for the country based on her peculiarities. Distributed electricity generation promises an edge over centralized electricity generation while considering energy security, efficiency, rural electrification, and capital investment cost. Distributed generation allows access to the deployment of clean energy. However, this is not to construe that its adoption will automatically guaranty reduced emissions.