DISTRIBUTED GENERATION (RENEWABLE ENERGY) – BEST OPTION FOR OIL BEARING COMMUNITIES

Ahiakwo, C. O. and Orike, S.

Department of Electrical/Computer Engineering

Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

E-mail: chrisahias@yahoo.com, orike.sunny@ust.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Energy, particularly electricity is the pivot of social and economical development of any nation. In view of this, oil company operatives in Nigeria enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with their host communities for the provision of electricity and water supply. This paper examined the energy supply source of these companies to their host communities in place of the available alternatives (renewable energy). The present power supply source is discovered to be inimical to the environment. The use of renewable energy was considered the best option for oil bearing communities as they are already faced with emission from gas flaring and need not to endanger their environment with further hydrocarbon emission.  

Keywords: Renewable Energy, Hydrocarbon Emission and Oil Bearing Communities.