The Impact of Renewable Energy Sources and Economic Growth on the Environmental Quality in Nigeria

Renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower) has the potential to drive economic growth without damaging environmental quality. Many researchers have looked at renewable energy consumption as a whole with little reference to separating each of the types of renewable energy that are more economical and environmentally peculiar to Nigeria. This study was therefore designed to consider each renewable energy source as it affects environmental quality. It explores the impact of renewable energy sources and economic growth on the environmental quality in Nigeria using a time series dataset spanning from 2000 to 2022. The study finds that as per capita GDP increases by one unit, the ecological footprint per person rises by 2.59×10 ^-4 units and a one-unit increase in per capita squared GDP results in a decrease of 4.21 ×10 ^-8 units in the ecological footprint per person. Also, raising solar energy by one unit reduces the ecological footprint per person by 2.07 ×10 ^-3 units. On the other hand, a one-unit rise in hydro energy increases the ecological footprint per person by 2.5 ×10 ^-5 units. Finally, an increase of one unit in HCD lowers the ecological footprint per person by 4.99 units. Hence, the impact of economic growth on the environment initially worsens but diminishes as the economy grows further. Solar energy source doesn't seem to have an impact on the environment, while using hydro-energy and human capital development have an impact on the environment.