A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications
Liberia, a developing nation, faces significant challenges in its energy sector, with limited access to electricity and heavy reliance on traditional biomass and imported fossil fuels. This review explores Liberia's energy landscape, policies, challenges, and opportunities, aiming to identify w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Energy Strategy Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X24000026 |
| _version_ | 1827355971079372800 |
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| author | Abdulfatah Abdu Yusuf Howard F. Kesselly Adolphus Nippae Charles Asumana Maxwell O. Kakulu Ibrahim Sinneh Sinneh Sylvester Z. Gono Raymond B. Mayango |
| author_facet | Abdulfatah Abdu Yusuf Howard F. Kesselly Adolphus Nippae Charles Asumana Maxwell O. Kakulu Ibrahim Sinneh Sinneh Sylvester Z. Gono Raymond B. Mayango |
| author_sort | Abdulfatah Abdu Yusuf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Liberia, a developing nation, faces significant challenges in its energy sector, with limited access to electricity and heavy reliance on traditional biomass and imported fossil fuels. This review explores Liberia's energy landscape, policies, challenges, and opportunities, aiming to identify ways to improve energy access and foster sustainable development. Our methodology employed a systematic search strategy, examining relevant literature from various sources, encompassing research articles, reports, and studies related to Liberia's energy landscape from 2010 onward. Our findings indicate that Liberia's energy mix is historically dominated by traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, accounting for more than 80 % of the country's total energy consumption. Petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, contribute to about 10 % of energy consumption, while hydroelectric power makes up just over 6 %. The remaining energy comes from various sources, including solar energy. This heavy reliance on traditional biomass and limited access to affordable energy has significant social and economic implications. Efforts have been made in recent years to improve Liberia's energy situation. Yet, significant challenges, including financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, affordability issues, and an outdated energy policy, continue to hinder progress. However, the review identifies opportunities for improving energy access, including abundant renewable energy resources, international support, public-private partnerships, off-grid solutions, and energy efficiency measures. Additionally, regular reviews and updates of policies, informed by accurate data and forward-looking strategies, are also essential to ensure that the energy sector remains aligned with changing circumstances and technological advancements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:51:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e2703f57eeeb48cd85b7a4dd3658c501 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-467X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:51:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Strategy Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-e2703f57eeeb48cd85b7a4dd3658c5012024-02-08T05:07:47ZengElsevierEnergy Strategy Reviews2211-467X2024-01-0151101295A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implicationsAbdulfatah Abdu Yusuf0Howard F. Kesselly1Adolphus Nippae2Charles Asumana3Maxwell O. Kakulu4Ibrahim Sinneh Sinneh5Sylvester Z. Gono6Raymond B. Mayango7Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, Liberia; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaThomas J.R. Faulkner College of Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (CoSTECC), University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Liberia, P. O. Box 10-9020, 1000, Monrovia, LiberiaLiberia, a developing nation, faces significant challenges in its energy sector, with limited access to electricity and heavy reliance on traditional biomass and imported fossil fuels. This review explores Liberia's energy landscape, policies, challenges, and opportunities, aiming to identify ways to improve energy access and foster sustainable development. Our methodology employed a systematic search strategy, examining relevant literature from various sources, encompassing research articles, reports, and studies related to Liberia's energy landscape from 2010 onward. Our findings indicate that Liberia's energy mix is historically dominated by traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, accounting for more than 80 % of the country's total energy consumption. Petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, contribute to about 10 % of energy consumption, while hydroelectric power makes up just over 6 %. The remaining energy comes from various sources, including solar energy. This heavy reliance on traditional biomass and limited access to affordable energy has significant social and economic implications. Efforts have been made in recent years to improve Liberia's energy situation. Yet, significant challenges, including financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, affordability issues, and an outdated energy policy, continue to hinder progress. However, the review identifies opportunities for improving energy access, including abundant renewable energy resources, international support, public-private partnerships, off-grid solutions, and energy efficiency measures. Additionally, regular reviews and updates of policies, informed by accurate data and forward-looking strategies, are also essential to ensure that the energy sector remains aligned with changing circumstances and technological advancements.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X24000026Energy accessSustainable developmentOff-gridPartnershipsChallengesOpportunities |
| spellingShingle | Abdulfatah Abdu Yusuf Howard F. Kesselly Adolphus Nippae Charles Asumana Maxwell O. Kakulu Ibrahim Sinneh Sinneh Sylvester Z. Gono Raymond B. Mayango A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications Energy Strategy Reviews Energy access Sustainable development Off-grid Partnerships Challenges Opportunities |
| title | A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications |
| title_full | A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications |
| title_fullStr | A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications |
| title_short | A comprehensive review of Liberia's energy scenario: Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications |
| title_sort | comprehensive review of liberia s energy scenario advancing energy access sustainability and policy implications |
| topic | Energy access Sustainable development Off-grid Partnerships Challenges Opportunities |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X24000026 |
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