Eco-Entrepreneurship Law and Distributed Energy Resources

Several studies have highlighted the importance of home-grown sustainability-focused small and medium-scale eco-enterprises (SMEEs), also called eco-entrepreneurs, for unlocking distributed energy resources. In addition to contributing to accelerating decarbonization and clean energy transition, distributed energy generation by SMEEs is also key to democratizing and diversifying the generation, distribution, and supply of energy resources needed to advance energy access and energy security in poor and underserved communities. Despite growing awareness of the importance of eco-entrepreneurship in distributed energy resources, few existing studies examine the supportive policy, legal, and regulatory framework necessary for distributed energy business models in developing countries. This chapter aims to fill this research gap by identifying these enabling factors. Using Nigeria as a case study, this chapter examines political, environmental, social, technological, and legal (PESTEL) gaps and challenges which act as barriers for eco-entrepreneurs.