POLICY AWARENESS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES OF END-OF-LIFE SOLAR PV SYSTEMS IN THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Access to reliable electricity remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, driving increased deployment of solar power systems (SPSs) across the Niger Delta, with emerging concerns over the management of end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) waste streams. This study assesses the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks governing solar power systems (SPSs) value chains in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, focusing on end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) waste management and stakeholder compliance amid rising electricity access challenges.</p><p><strong>Design/Methodology/Approach:</strong> Primary data from 90 purposively selected stakeholders (recyclers, technicians, traders, importers) across Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa States were collected via structured questionnaires. The data analysis employed descriptive statistics (frequency distributions) and multiple linear regression, testing policy awareness, regulatory enforcement, financial incentives, and technical capacity against waste management effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> 63% of stakeholders lacked awareness of the National Environmental (Energy Sector) Regulations; 58% and 67% of respondents were unaware of the NREEEP and NEEAP respectively. Furthermore, 58% of stakeholders rated deployed strategies as inadequate; 73% reported no collection targets; and over 60% noted the absence of recycling incentives. Regression analysis confirmed significant relationships (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), with policy awareness (β = 0.438) emerging as the strongest predictor of effectiveness in managing end-of-life SPSs.</p><p><strong>Research Limitations/Implications:</strong> The purposive sampling technique limits the generalizability of findings and focused only on operational/expert stakeholders. The study highlights the need for adopting the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) integration and comprehensive stakeholder training to bridge awareness and implementation gaps.</p><p><strong>Practical Implications:</strong> To enhance resilience, regulators should urgently strengthen policy dissemination, establish periodic collection targets, provide formal recycling incentives, and enforce NESREA regulations and related policy instruments to mitigate SPS waste risks as Nigeria transitions toward renewable energy.</p><p><strong>Originality/Value:</strong> This study provides the first empirical analysis linking stakeholders’ policy awareness to solar SPS waste management effectiveness in the Niger Delta, rejecting the null hypothesis through regression analysis (R² = 0.507).</p>