Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 3159-0040 Vol. 2 Issue 8, August - 2015 www.jmest.org JMESTN42351013 2260 Critical Factors Affecting The Development And Diffusion Of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETS) In Nigeria Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad Department of Architecture, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria. yayarisadiq@yahoo.com Mohammed Gambo Abdullahi Department of Architecture, Institute for Smart Infrastructure and Innovative Construction (IS&IC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. gamspeco@yahoo.co.uk Nma Yakubu Mohammed Department of Architecture, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria. marksdestiny33@yahoo.com Abstract—The paper examines the barriers, policies, prospects as well as the factors affecting the development and diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in Nigeria. The study identified weak institutional framework, poor policy implementation, inadequate financing, and lack of awareness of the socioeconomic, technological and environmental merits of RETs as the major barriers hindering its development and diffusion. Furthermore, the authors affirm that a paradigm shift is required to alter the current sociopolitical and techno-economic dynamics of current energy climate of fossil based fuels in the country. This will require the adoption a fossil fuels complementary approach as opposed to the dominant substitution approach recurrently described by academics in literature. The study concludes by highlighting the future prospects RETs development and diffusion in Nigeria. Keywords— Renewables; Energy; Development; Sociopolitical; Nigeria; Technovation. I. INTRODUCTION The global drive for future socioeconomic growth and sustainable development will require low cost, clean and renewable sources of energy [1, 2]. Hence a comprehensive and complete divestment from the current status of fossil fuel energy dependency towards renewable energy technologies (RETs) such as biomass, solar, wind, and hydropower is required. For decades, the world has relied on fossil fuels for its energy needs notably in transport, heating, and industry at the expense of the environment. This has resulted in environmental degradation due to widespread pollution and increased greenhouse (GHG) emissions. In addition, the overreliance on fossil fuels has presented geopolitical and socioeconomic challenges particularly in oil producing regions of the world. In spite of the widely acceptable benefits of clean energy, the proposed transition from fossil based fuels to renewable sources has been low or unexplored notably in developing countries like Nigeria [3]. Nigeria is a resource rich nation with an estimated 35 billion barrels of crude oil, 180 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, 40 billion metric tonnes of coal as well as tar sands, precious metals, ores which account for over 90 % of GDP annually [4]. Furthermore, Nigeria possesses vast hydropower potential amounting to 11,000 MW, fuel-wood 13 million hectares, animal wastes and crop residues [5]. Other renewable sources of energy in Nigerian include solar, wind and ocean tidal energy. However, Nigeria is plagued by widespread socioeconomic poverty and an energy crises despite its position as the largest producer and exporter of crude oil in Africa [6, 7]. Consequently, it is estimated that 60% of the public lacks access to reliable modern energy and electricity services culminating in the “energy poverty” scenario in Nigeria. In general, energy poverty in Nigeria encompasses inadequate quantity, poor quality and low access to energy [7, 8]. Consequently, fuel-wood and other traditional biomass sources have become the principal sources of energy for domestic and industrial applications in the country [9]. Currently, fuel-wood utilization accounts for 70–90% of domestic energy use which equates to per a capita consumption of 393.43 kg/yr and 255.75 kg/yr in rural and urban areas, respectively [10]. This high rate of fuel-wood consumption has led to high rates of deforestation, desertification, erosion and soil infertility over the years [11]. Furthermore, the overdependence on traditional biomass sources, dwindling fossil fuel reserves, and adverse effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This has increased the calls for the adoption of an energy economy based on renewable energy technologies in the country. However numerous efforts by governments in developing countries have failed to materialize into a sustainable energy economy based on renewable energy technologies (RETs). According to Tsoutsos and Stamboulis (2005), the fundamental difference between RETs and conventional energy systems requires an innovative and sustainable development, diffusion and management process for incorporation into future