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Renewable energy sources in Cameroon: Potentials, benefits and enabling environment

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  • Abanda, F.H.

Abstract

The price of hydroelectricity in Cameroon has recently sky-rocketed. At the same time, firewood in remote areas is being depleted without being replenished. This has led to a number of challenges; energy is no longer affordable and environmental impacts from the wanton exploitation of firewood are widespread. Therefore, there is a need to explore other renewable energy sources which have enormous environmental and energy potentials. However, there is limited scholarly work on the potential of other renewable energy sources in Cameroon. Literature on the potential of renewable energy in Cameroon is still very limited and scattered. The exact sizes of the different renewable energy sources, their benefits and the market potential that can stimulate their uptake are not well-known. Therefore, stakeholders including policy makers, researchers and investors lack guidelines on how and at what level to invest, intervene, and design policies that can lead to the practical exploitation of renewable energy sources. This article investigates the extent to which renewable energy can contribute to the energy sector in Cameroon. The article lays the groundwork that can inform various stakeholders to engage into different activities which can foster the understanding of renewable energy sources and their potentials and limitations. Some key findings are that: while solar and biomass energy are abundant almost everywhere in Cameroon, wind energy is feasible in some selected regions. Furthermore, while the few literature sources about geothermal sources are contradictory or at best non-conclusive about their potential, tidal energy is yet to receive considerable attention, with its first feasibility studies having been just recently begun. These findings point to the fact that if renewable energy is to be part of the Cameroon’s energy programme, there is need to scale-up research in the development of renewable energy in order to better inform energy policies.

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  • Abanda, F.H., 2012. "Renewable energy sources in Cameroon: Potentials, benefits and enabling environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 4557-4562.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:16:y:2012:i:7:p:4557-4562
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.04.011
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    17. Bundhoo, Zumar M.A., 2018. "Renewable energy exploitation in the small island developing state of Mauritius: Current practice and future potential," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2029-2038.
    18. Tiam Kapen, Pascalin & Jeutho Gouajio, Marinette & Yemélé, David, 2020. "Analysis and efficient comparison of ten numerical methods in estimating Weibull parameters for wind energy potential: Application to the city of Bafoussam, Cameroon," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1188-1198.
    19. Ermolenko, Boris V. & Ermolenko, Georgy V. & Fetisova, Yulia A. & Proskuryakova, Liliana N., 2017. "Wind and solar PV technical potentials: Measurement methodology and assessments for Russia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 1001-1012.
    20. Muh, Erasmus & Amara, Sofiane & Tabet, Fouzi, 2018. "Sustainable energy policies in Cameroon: A holistic overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3420-3429.
    21. Njoh, Ambe J. & Etta, Simon & Essia, Uwem & Ngyah-Etchutambe, Ijang & Enomah, Lucy E.D. & Tabrey, Hans T. & Tarke, Mah O., 2019. "Implications of institutional frameworks for renewable energy policy administration: Case study of the Esaghem, Cameroon community PV solar electrification project," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 17-24.
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