Grassroots Energy Transitions: Economic, Safety and Climate Dimensions of LPG Adoption Among Small Businesses in Karu LGA

This study investigates the grassroots transition from petrol to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)-powered generators among small businesses in Karu Local Government Area (LGA), Nigeria.Driven by rising petrol costs, frequent power outages and increasing environmental awareness, this localized shift represents a tangible contribution toward Nigeria's 2030 climate goals.Using a mixed-methods approach combining surveys and interviews, the study examines the drivers, opportunities, challenges and broader implications of LPG adoption.Findings reveal that while substantial economic benefits, including significant reductions in daily fuel expenditure and improved operational sustainability, motivate the transition, critical barriers remain.Chief among these are the high initial conversion costs and pervasive safety concerns related to potential gas leakage and explosions.The transition also follows a scale-adaptive pattern, with small businesses retrofitting generators, medium-sized enterprises adopting purpose-built LPG generators and larger industries shifting towards compressed natural gas (CNG) systems.The study highlights the need for targeted financial incentives, safety assurance programs and capacity-building initiatives to overcome these barriers.Supporting and scaling these grassroots efforts can foster a more inclusive, resilient and low-carbon energy transition, positioning small businesses as key contributors to Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and broader climate strategy.