Stakeholders have advocated for discreet usage of power, following limited generation and other problems in the sector. They spoke during the 13th edition of the Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Lecture (DEEEAL) in Lagos, EMEKA UGWUANYI was there.
•Procurement for Mambilla’s 3,000mw hydro plant begins
Considering the numerous challenges including security, pipeline and equipment vandalism and power theft that militate against government’s aspiration of attaining stable power supply, it has become imperative for Nigerians to optmise available generation by cultivating energy conservation culture while the government finds sustainable solution to the problems, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Dr Oladele Amoda has advised.
Amoda was the guest lecturer at the 13th Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Annual Lecture (DEEEAL) held in Lagos. In his paper titled: “Power distribution demand side management in developing economies,” Amoda stressed the importance of energy conservation, which can be achieved by switching off devices, lightings and other equipment when not in use.
The paper dealt with basic concept of demand side management (DSM) and its proposed use as a tool to mitigate power shortages in Nigeria. To underscore the importance of DSM, Amoda said at an estimated annual economic growth rate of between seven per cent and 13 per cent, as well as an urbanisation rate of 3.8 per cent, Nigeria’s electricity demand is projected to grow from 15,730 megawatts (mw) in 2016 to 41,133mw and 88,282mw by the end of 2018 and 2020 respectively.
He also noted that the increase in demand for electric power is noticeable in the residential sector. This is due to increase in population, greater need for housing and rural electrification. The demand by the industrial sector is difficult to estimate due to the fact most of the medium to large scale industries rely heavily on self-generated power, which is generally believed to be in excess of 40,000mw, he said, adding that energy is the central force behind our productivity, our leisure and our environment.
Amoda said: “Low cost energy was abundant in the past, which made the cost of energy a small fraction of the cost of finished product. Use of low cost energy for home comfort became very predominant. The subsequent increase in oil prices increased the energy cost in every sector, domestic, commercial and industrial, among others. However, our energy resources are fast getting depleted. Thus energy saving or conservation is essential in developed and developing countries.”
According to him, the goal of DSM is to encourage the consumer to use less energy during peak hours, or to move the time of energy use to off-peak times such as nighttime and weekends. The DSM is an energy conservation mechanism, which concentrates action at the user’s end rather than at the supplier’s side. At the supplier’s side, electric energy consumption can be controlled using a number of actions carried out by the utility on its own installations to manage electricity supply, he added.
Amoda listed some energy conservation measures, which include building design that permits most of the spaces to be day lighted, adding that using day lighting reduces energy consumption by replacing electric lights with natural light, capable of reducing 40-60 per cent of electricity for lighting needs. Provision of enough windows for cross ventilation, can also reduce the use of air-conditioners in homes and offices, he said.
“Substituting incandescent lamps with energy saving lamps is good energy conservation measure. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are generally considered best for replacement of lower incandescent lamps at homes, offices, commercial and industrial outfits,” he added.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was the guest of honour at the event, corroborated Amoda. He said the Federal Government is considering a new building code that would promote usage of glass buildings to enable utilisation of day light, more widows and use of materials that will keep the building illuminated and cool.
Fashola said the new building code becomes imperative because the nation’s power generation remains at the lowest ebb. He also noted that the government is working on energy mix that will enable the country tap electricity from different sources because dependence on gas holds the country to ransom.
He said: “Government will access any available source of energy in order to achieve not only affordable energy but also national energy security so that we are not dependent on one source of fuel. Our vulnerability to gas has been responsible for the developments we see today, so one of the things that the energy mix will do is not just taking power plants closer to fuel source but also help us to achieve national energy security.
“So we will go beyond solar to some coal, to a lot of hydro – finishing hydro plants such as Zungeru and starting the biggest hydro power plant, Mambilla, which will give us in one place 3000 megawatts (mw). We are finalising procurement now. We will also explore biomass. There is a sugar processing and sugarcane plantation in Adamawa. We are talking to the proprietors to see how we can use some of that to produce energy.”
