http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/3 A long essay, dissertation or thesis involving personal research, written by postgraduates for a degree. 2026-05-13T19:45:14Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1165 The Dynamics of Low-carbon Energy Transitions and Net-zero Emissions Toward Energy Security and Climate Goals in Nigeria Shari, Babajide Epe Renewable energy is anticipated to play a vital role in the future to meet the global energy demand for low carbon transition. Solar energy presents the inherent characteristic given by the nature of the resource (intermittent availability). This observation highlights the need for thermal energy storage system. This PhD thesis was more focused on thermal energy storage for concentrating solar power plant, as well as its two essential components such as heat transfer fluid, storage materials and solar field. The analysis of the thermocline storage system and parabolic trough collector performance is achieved through the development of new thermal energy storage material, Direct normal irradiance data collection and numerical approaches. An innovative alternative solution for the storage materials consisted to use sand, clay and coal bottom ash to manufacture ceramic balls for thermal energy storage. The new material can store heat at temperature up to 610 °C. The new material showed good compatibility with Jatropha Curcas oil during 2160 h of heat treatment at 210 °C. After numerical analysis the new storage system (ceramic ball and JCO) can provide a discharge efficacy up to 94% depending on the storage tank size. In addition, Jatropha curcas oil is an innovative heat transfer fluid for parabolic trough collector (PTC) which can provide an average thermal efficiency up 83% to the collector. The connection of both TES system and parabolic trough collector (PTC) shows that a mass flow rate of 2 kgs-1 is necessary to charge a TES system of 2 12ℎ>? with a collection area of 460 m2 before 3 pm under Ouagadougou and Agadez Climate condition. So, we propose, Jatropha curcas oil as heat transfer fluid (HTF) in medium-size (up to 1 12@A) PTC plants using Organic Rankine Cycle power generation unit during 24h integrating the new TES system. It is a suitable technology in any region where the maximal DNI can reach 750 W.m-2. The originality of the new composite material for thermal energy storage combines performance, materials availability at industrial scale and waste to energy approach while reducing environmental and financial impact. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université Abdou Moumini, Niger in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Energy 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1164 Development and characterization of Eco-materials for sensible heat storage in concentrating solar power plants Bagre, Boubou Renewable energy is anticipated to play a vital role in the future to meet the global energy demand for low carbon transition. Solar energy presents the inherent characteristic given by the nature of the resource (intermittent availability). This observation highlights the need for thermal energy storage system. This PhD thesis was more focused on thermal energy storage for concentrating solar power plant, as well as its two essential components such as heat transfer fluid, storage materials and solar field. The analysis of the thermocline storage system and parabolic trough collector performance is achieved through the development of new thermal energy storage material, Direct normal irradiance data collection and numerical approaches. An innovative alternative solution for the storage materials consisted to use sand, clay and coal bottom ash to manufacture ceramic balls for thermal energy storage. The new material can store heat at temperature up to 610 °C. The new material showed good compatibility with Jatropha Curcas oil during 2160 h of heat treatment at 210 °C. After numerical analysis the new storage system (ceramic ball and JCO) can provide a discharge efficacy up to 94% depending on the storage tank size. In addition, Jatropha curcas oil is an innovative heat transfer fluid for parabolic trough collector (PTC) which can provide an average thermal efficiency up 83% to the collector. The connection of both TES system and parabolic trough collector (PTC) shows that a mass flow rate of 2 kgs-1 is necessary to charge a TES system of 2 12ℎ>? with a collection area of 460 m2 before 3 pm under Ouagadougou and Agadez Climate condition. So, we propose, Jatropha curcas oil as heat transfer fluid (HTF) in medium-size (up to 1 12@A) PTC plants using Organic Rankine Cycle power generation unit during 24h integrating the new TES system. It is a suitable technology in any region where the maximal DNI can reach 750 W.m-2. The originality of the new composite material for thermal energy storage combines performance, materials availability at industrial scale and waste to energy approach while reducing environmental and financial impact. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université Abdou Moumini, Niger in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Energy 2024-06-22T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1163 Renewable energy production under climate change, decentralized smart grid and sustainable energy system: Evidence in Togo Amega, Kokou West African countries’ power sector encounters interrelated problems, such as intermittent power access, lack of power security and reliability, aging distribution infrastructure, and the impact of climate change. To meet their increasing energy demand and ensure a secure and reliable electricity supply under the changing climate, a resilient sustainable energy system is to be developed and promoted. Accordingly, the current research seeks to create an enabling environment that will permit the development of a sustainable electric power system model that is climate-resilient and compatible with the Togolese power system. This case study enables energy security through energy efficiency promotion, clean energy development, supply quality and reliability improvement, and reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) by increasing electricity access in Togo. To reach the objectives of the study, an integrated approach is used. Firstly, Sandia method-assessment approach is applied to develop a typical meteorological year (TMY) as an alternative solution for data issues in renewable energy (RE) studies. Secondly, the impact of changing climate (CC) on decentralized power resources (solar energy) technology and generation potential has been conducted based on energy rating and photovoltaic cell (monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous) temperature models at the national level under RCP2.6 and 8.5 scenarios. Finally, the existing power system networks are thoroughly investigated based on expert elicitation and modelled with Simscape-MATLAB/Simulink in view of a Smart Grid (SG) development considering the penetration of renewable energy (RE). Results showed a very low installed RE (hydro and solar) capacity of 11.27% from 2015 to 2020. The generated TMY predicts PV system performance within 2% of the datasets at all sites. Regarding the impact of CC, PV cells’ temperature would likely rise across all five regions in the country and may trigger a decline in the PV potential under RCP2.6 and 8.5. However, the magnitude of the induced change depended on two major factors: (1) PV technology and (2) geographical position. These dissimilarities were more pronounced under RCP8.5 with amorphous technology. The Togolese power sector is characterized by a number of issues including limited supply, technical issues regarding transmission and distribution (power losses due to aging infrastructures), and power outages. Therefore, the power system is modeled in view of its transformation to increase supply and improve reliability and resiliency. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université Abdou Moumini, Niger in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Energy 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1162 Understanding and Teaching Climate Change Concepts in Geography Curriculum at Secondary Schools in Senegal This study investigates into the teachers‘ and learners‘ understanding of climate change concepts in the secondary education from the geography curriculum in Senegal. As a solution to climate change, formal education has been identified as a major tool of changing people‘s attitude towards the environmental protection. The study is based on a cross-sectional survey of 101 geography teachers and 320 students selected from 16 secondary schools through multistage sampling methods, including simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data for this study were also collected from 8 school principals and 8 school headmasters, 16 focus group discussions among students and 9 key informant interviews, including 3 senior inspectors of geography, 3 senior geography curriculum designers and 3 senior environmental education officers. The research used a thematic area content analysis template to quantify and analyse climate change content in the geography curriculum for the lower and upper secondary schools. To analyse the data obtained from respondents, a logistic regression model, climate change awareness index, chi-square and independent sample t-tests and descriptive statistics were used for this study. The results of the study reveal that 43% of identified relevant climate change content was not addressed in the secondary geography curriculum, indicating that this current curriculum is inadequate for effective climate change education in schools. Further, the average climate change awareness index for geography teachers was 0.6455 (64.55%), implying that geography teachers fairly understand climate change concepts while, climate change awareness index for students was 0.5343 (53.43%), showing that students scantly understand climate change concepts. There is no significant relationship between climate change content in the geography curriculum and climate change awareness of geography teachers and their students as revealed in the chi-square test for teachers (83.651>0.552) and for students (49.503>0.718). In addition, numerous gaps and misconceptions were found to exist in teachers‘ and students‘ understanding of climate change concepts, particularly the scientific processes of climate change causes and its remedies. The findings of the logistic regression model showed that frequency of teaching about climate change, teacher‘s experience, comprehensive geography curriculum, teacher‘s knowledge of climate change, and teaching and learning climate change resources positively and significantly influence the effectiveness of teaching about climate change concepts. The study recommends that climate change content should be explicitly integrated into all the geography topics from lower to upper secondary level across all grades. The research also recommends that the Government of Senegal should train geography teachers on climate change education both at in-service and pre-service level and providing the resources required for climate change education. It would be essential to establish environmental clubs in all Senegalese secondary schools with full engagement and active participation of teachers, headmasters, principals and students of all grade levels so as to promoting climate change education, therefore inciting pro-environmental activities in schools and communities. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the University of The Gambia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Education 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z