Harnessing Big DataAnalytics for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development in West Africa: A Critique of Some Big Data Projects

Abstract

Hydropower is the safest and cheapest renewable sources of electrical energy. However the effect of climate change on rivers and lakes which are major sources of hydropower energy has been discussed in several literatures. Much attention is being given to climate data analytic in the developed world but there is paucity of data sets on climate change in Ghana and most other countries in West Africa. This work takes a critique view of how big data analytics tools are being deployed in some climate change projects across the world. Concerted collaborative actions is therefore needed towards sourcing data sets on climate change and developing analytic tools to harness the power of big data for sustainable and renewable energy development in West Africa.