Bioenergy potential in Nigeria, how to advance knowledge and deployment to enable SDG 7

Biomass is currently the main energy source in Nigeria, but it is being used and managed unsustainably, resulting in significant health and environmental risks. To support Nigeria's transition to an affordable, reliable, and low‐emission future, there is a need to shift from traditional biomass use to modern bioenergy applications. The research reviews the existing knowledge on themes relevant to developing sustainable modern bioenergy for Nigeria in the context of agri‐residues. It synthesizes the key findings on the themes from 161 scientific literature published between 2010 and 2021 on Nigeria and Sub‐Saharan Africa. The findings show that most literature focused on agri‐residues potentially available in large amounts but highly disaggregated, such as cassava and palm residues. Furthermore, the literature highlighted the importance of understanding agri‐residue aggregation, technological, economic, socio‐economic, governance framework of bioenergy, and the interactions with other sectors to unlock the full potential of modern bioenergy. While research acknowledged that bioenergy could enhance energy security, economic growth, and social co‐benefits, there has been less focus on the benefits of novel bioenergy solutions co‐created by relevant stakeholder groups in Nigeria. Involving relevant stakeholders in developing novel bioenergy solutions would address the missing link between resource assessment, appropriate technology deployment, and end‐user demand. It would also enhance the analysis of the bioenergy market and nonmarket benefits and ensure that bioenergy solutions in Nigeria are aligned with community needs and foster inclusivity. This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Bioenergy Policy and Economics > Governance and Regulation