While parts of Nigeria possess excellent DNI (direct sunlight) and are ideally suited for CSP/biomass hybrid plants, much of the country if not all, has been subjected to severe shortages of dispatchable energy, especially for those rural areas that are off-grid. The installed generation capacity of Nigeria is 12,500 MW and the major contributors are fossil (gas) thermal power plant and hydropower power plant with the contribution of 87.5% and 12.5% respectively. However, the power available for the consumption to the end user is only 3,500 MW to 5000 MW. Based upon this scenario, it could be concluded that country is in an energy crisis. The high amount of energy loss can be attributed to factors such as:

- the non-availability of the installation capacity of the power plant;
- repeated occurrence of the technical issues and non-technical issues that affects the value of the power supply chain.

Part of the purpose of this research is to conduct an in-depth introspection of this power supply chain with a focus on the dysfunctional decentralized yet federalized power generation GENCOs - transmission TCN - distribution DISCOs system. As a result of this dysfunction, the region's current per capita electricity usage is estimated to be less than 150 kWh, which is amongst the lowest in Africa.

A recourse to a neighbourhood scale energy resolution appears to be not just a much-needed requirement in towns and rural communities in areas such as Ijebu-Ife in Ogun state, but presents the basis for the doctoral innovation statement. This project would thus explore through its literature review the options for community-scale power generation using an architectural planning framework for design and integration. The most likely option from using the likes of a PUGH matrix would be a hybrid CSP/CPV, with a parabolic dish solar collector. Thermal storage will be an optional extra. The project includes a need to source local materials wherever possible and to design for sustainability. Technical aspects include the design of a concentrating solar thermal power plant that is suitable for the climate and the location.

There are also manufacturing and business elements to consider, since the intention is to present both a viable and sustainable model where industry and households co-exist within that innovative neighbourhood scale. There would be scope for manufacturing components locally, build the plant, and test it but this will not all be possible within the EngD project, but it is hoped will occur at some later date. The output of the EngD will include an architectural planning framework for the plant design and integration into the neighbourhood, materials sustainability analysis, a manufacturing plan, and a business plan for investors. The main contributions to knowledge will be in the innovative design, and the economies of its neighbourhood scale. This would cover areas such as sustainable materials analysis and selected to construct the plant, and in the manufacturing, maintenance, and disposal of those materials.