Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa

This paper estimates the impact of renewable energy on economic growth in West African countries using panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) by employing a sample of 15 West African countries covering the 1995-2014 period. The results indicated that renewable energy consumption slows down econ...

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Main Authors: Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru, Sulaiman, Chindo, Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/1/Renewable%20energy%20consumption%20and%20economic%20growth%20nexus.pdf
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author Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru
Sulaiman, Chindo
Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahim
author_facet Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru
Sulaiman, Chindo
Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahim
author_sort Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper estimates the impact of renewable energy on economic growth in West African countries using panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) by employing a sample of 15 West African countries covering the 1995-2014 period. The results indicated that renewable energy consumption slows down economic growth in these countries. This is attributed to the nature and source of renewable energy used in West Africa, which is majorly wood biomass. The wood biomasses used in West Africa are usually unclean and highly polluting when burnt. On the other hand, the use of clean energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower which does not have a side effect on human health and the environment is less in West Africa. As such, renewable energy use can slow down economic growth by lowering productivity when unclean and inefficient sources are used. The study recommends that (1) cleaner technologies should be employed to optimize the benefits of wood biomass as a renewable source of energy while minimizing its adverse effects; (2) the share of other renewable energy components such as solar, wind and geothermal should be increased in the renewable energy mix of the sub-region of West Africa and (3) greater commitment to achieving sustainable renewable energy by West African authorities is needed.
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spelling upm-819832021-08-12T10:19:40Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/ Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru Sulaiman, Chindo Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahim This paper estimates the impact of renewable energy on economic growth in West African countries using panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) by employing a sample of 15 West African countries covering the 1995-2014 period. The results indicated that renewable energy consumption slows down economic growth in these countries. This is attributed to the nature and source of renewable energy used in West Africa, which is majorly wood biomass. The wood biomasses used in West Africa are usually unclean and highly polluting when burnt. On the other hand, the use of clean energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower which does not have a side effect on human health and the environment is less in West Africa. As such, renewable energy use can slow down economic growth by lowering productivity when unclean and inefficient sources are used. The study recommends that (1) cleaner technologies should be employed to optimize the benefits of wood biomass as a renewable source of energy while minimizing its adverse effects; (2) the share of other renewable energy components such as solar, wind and geothermal should be increased in the renewable energy mix of the sub-region of West Africa and (3) greater commitment to achieving sustainable renewable energy by West African authorities is needed. Elsevier 2019-11 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/1/Renewable%20energy%20consumption%20and%20economic%20growth%20nexus.pdf Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru and Sulaiman, Chindo and Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahim (2019) Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa. Energy Reports, 5. pp. 384-392. ISSN 2352-4847 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484718302269 10.1016/j.egyr.2019.03.005
spellingShingle Maji, Ibrahim Kabiru
Sulaiman, Chindo
Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahim
Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa
title Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa
title_full Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa
title_fullStr Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa
title_full_unstemmed Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa
title_short Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from West Africa
title_sort renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: a fresh evidence from west africa
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/81983/1/Renewable%20energy%20consumption%20and%20economic%20growth%20nexus.pdf