In very many Nigerian households, it is common for individuals to time their use of electrical devices due to the fact that electricity supply is not constant. You are probably also looking at your battery percentage, and using every power saving mode on your phone because your power bank has run down and you certainly do not want to stare into darkness or force yourself to sleep.

All over the world, energy is a necessity and countries are looking to protect the environment even as they use this energy by reducing actions that cause climate change. As fossil fuels with harmful effects are on the front burner for world energy, cleaner methods are being turned to. Currently, global efforts are no longer only the business of developed countries, but the responsibility of every country. It is then necessary to look to renewable energy in Nigeria as an alternative source in order to meet the ever-increasing Nigerian energy demand.

So then what is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy from a source that can never be depleted when used. Examples of this type of energy are wind and solar power. Non-renewable energy on the other hand is energy that can be used up. One of the global sustainable development goals is the provision of clean energy. This goal is what has sparked general interest in renewable energy solutions across the world.

On the 4^th of July, 2020, the IEEE UI-SB organized an insightful panel discussion on renewable energy. The panelists were Dr. Atanda Raji and Gbeminiyi Idowu, both experts in renewable energy. During the discussion, renewable energy was defined practically and its importance in our current state was emphasized.

Solar power is one of the trending topics in renewable energy, and is already being utilized in a number of Nigerian households as an alternative to on-grid electricity. However, solar energy on a large scale is not so feasible as it requires huge capital costs and is generally not reliable due to the unstable nature of the sun’s energy over time, which is the general setback of all forms of renewable energy. It was suggested that in order to find a way to change things gradually, solar projects can be started in rural areas where the grid hasn’t gotten to. The use of solar energy has increased in the past years, and would only increase as the commodity is getting cheaper through increased research and development.

Another major issue that was discussed was that for the move to renewable energy to be quicker and make more impact, the intervention of the government is necessary. This intervention involves making it easier to import such products and services. Public-private partnerships are paramount for a smooth transition to the clean way as the private sector will not be able to successfully go forward with renewable energy singlehandedly.

As all those present were essentially students and fresh graduates, prioritizing governmental issues and the inadequate education on the subject matter was not the answer to the question of what next. In that regard, students were advised to learn as much as they could on their own and also look for internship opportunities in any small companies involved actively in renewable energy solutions in homes and offices.

At the end of the day, it was concluded that for those interested in renewable energy, they would need to learn as much as they can online and take any possible opportunities to work on projects or work in companies dealing with renewable energy. What matters at the moment are the little efforts put in place that will culminate in radical change. Clean energy is the way forward in solving our energy problems while protecting our environment. The way forward is the clean way.

Elushade Oluwatumininu