The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Green Energy

  • Firm unveils green energy solutions

    Firm unveils green energy solutions

    To address pressing concerns in the provision of power supply in Nigeria, a leading player in renewable energy space has concluded plans to drive the effective management of power with the introduction of cutting-edge technology product: Dyque Cube.

    The product described as an intervention to resolve the future of power in Nigeria and the rest of Africa is fuelled by the passion of the company to use cutting-edge power technology to redesign the landscape of green solutions in an era where sustainable and efficient energy solutions are becoming compelling.

    Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, Dyque Cube Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Andy Yan, said the company has brought to the market a product that surpasses industry standards and focuses on customer satisfaction while combining functionality to take control of energy consumption and maximize savings.

    The new technology, which is the world’s first: Five-in-one artificial intelligence-empowered system is projected to be a game changer in the energy sector.

    The cutting-edge solar solution, according to Yan is the green power solution for emerging markets offering a 15-minute stackable installation, five layers of battery protection and other features that protect devices from short- and long-term malfunctions.

    The technology, Yan said is critical for power-sensitive electronics, including; servers, data centres, and ATMs.

     Unlike other energy providers, Yan said Dyque’s energy system operates a one battery one optimiser setup.

    He said: “Dyque Cube is noiseless, packed with a natural conduction cooling system and can be charged with solar and grid systems.

    “Dyque Cube is also powerful enough to charge electric vehicles. Other perks of Dyque Cube include an IP66 rating, a five-year replacement warranty period and nationwide support.

     “Dyque Cube owns the E turbo energy optimization battery technology, the first of its kind in the market.

    “This optimization technology ensures Dyque Cube’s phenomenal features address most of the pressing concerns of energy in Nigeria.

    Dyque’s commitment to quality is evident in numerous awards, including the Red Dot Design Award and the IF Design Award.

     “The company’s manufacturing processes adhere to ISO 9001 standards, ensuring top-notch quality control and defect prevention throughout the production process.

    Read Also: CNG: Expert calls for Green Energy Bank

    “The Dyque Energy App with a one-click diagnostic system, five-minute commission time, empowered by AI, provides users with an advanced experience for smart green energy management.

    “With stunning UI design and effective information presentation, the app, along with the Dyque Cube, empowers users to make energy work for them, automatically accessing dynamic utility rates to maximize savings.”

     He said Dyque also provides one-on-one customer support systems to analyze and ascertain individual energy needs to maximize use before, during, and after Dyque Cube service delivery.

    As Dyque sets ambitious targets for 2024, with a battery production capacity of 6GWh and a power production capacity of 12GW, he said the company stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability in the global energy landscape.

  • Flaring: Green energy builds $12m LPG

    In order to avert gas flaring, the Green Energy International Ltd, operators of Otakikpo Marginal field  in OML 11, is now building a $12million Liquefied Petroleum (LPG) plant  in Ikuru Town in Rivers State that will be ready for installation by the 2nd quarter of 2019. The 12MMSCFD  capacity plant is being constructed in China  at a cost of over 12 million dollars.

    Disclosing this at the first  stakeholders interactive luncheon held in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the company, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, said this was one of the unique projects of the company to ensure zero gas flare in the the Niger Delta, under its small scale gas utilization programme “SSGUP”. This was contained in the statement which the Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Olusegun Ilori released to reporters yesterday.

    The statement also noted that  the host communities are to enjoy uninterrupted power supply through the company’s gas to power project, with 6 MW gas generators already on site for installation process. He said the company has secured a 15 MW power generation license from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and efforts are being made to increase to 40Mw.

    Reeling out other plans of the company in its phase 2 development, Adegbulugbe said the company had just completed a 3D seismic campaign to understand the field with a view to  drilling more wells in the area, while an onshore export terminal is also being proposed to be established by 2020. He said the company which started production in 2017 was producing  6000bopd, adding that it planned to ramp up production to 20,000  bopd in the next few years.

    He commended the traditional rulers and the people of the area for their support and cooperation with the company in achieving tremendous progress adding that this was a  prove that its unique programme of taking the communities as partners in its development effort was not misplaced. He said the company and its technical partner Lekoil, has patronized  local  community contractors since its inception with over N3billion worth of procurement contracts.

  • ‘Green Energy de-risked marginal field operation’

    Chairman of Green Energy International Ltd, Prof Anthony Adegbulugbe, has said the firm which operates Otakikpo marginal field in OML 11, de-risked the marginal field operations.

    He said  the firm’s strategy of linking Otakikpo’s upstream activities to the larger economy tremendously de risked the field.

    According to him, the company from the onset has been positioned as an integrated energy company having determined to use the gas produced from the field for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and power generation.

    Its Director of Legal & Corporate Affairs, Olusegun Ilori, in a statement, said the chairman spoke at the African Marginal & Independent Oil and Gas Producers conference in London.

    Adegbulugbe said the uncertainties in the oil business environment  has imposed serious sustainability challenges on small oil producers.

    The sustainability of Africa’s marginal oil field producers, according to him, depends on ability to leverage other unique opportunities in the oil and gas business beyond only upstream activity.

    The conference with: Maximising Economics and Technology for Optimisation  was organised by Energy and Corporate Africa brought together  African marginal and independent field producers, investors, industry service providers, oil exploration experts, offtakers, researchers, banking and finance providers  among others.

    He said sustainable development strategies must include increasing base production, reduction in operational cost per barrel and others.

     

     

  • Fed Govt approves LPG extraction plant for Green Energy

    Fed Govt approves LPG extraction plant for Green Energy

    The Federal Government has approved  the establishment of a liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG ) extraction plant at Ikuru Town, Rivers state for  Green Energy International Limited, the Operator of the Otakikpo marginal field in OML 11.

    The license to Establish ( LTE)  of the 12MMSCFD  capacity plant, was issued to the company by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as the company moves to fulfill its obligations  as  a pilot project approved by government  for zero gas flares operation in the Niger Delta.

    Director Legal & Corporate Matters, Olusegun Ilori made this known in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday.

    According to the statement, the company which began production in February 2017 said  it was determined to ensure full utilization of the gas produced from the field for LPG  and power generation.

    It stated that the approval has made it possible for the company to make final investment decision (FID) by awarding the Engineering, Procurement, Construction & Installation of the LPG Extraction Plant to PCC-LAMBDA Consortium, formed between Nigeria Indigenous companies and a Chinese  company -Peiyang Chemical Equipment Co. Ltd (PCC), who is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and will be responsible for manufacturing and design activities associated with this project. The LPG Extraction plant has the following design  output capacities

    Ilori  said  the gas utilization programme involve the use of the lean  gas  to power the 12MW gas generator at Otakikpo field out of which 5MW would be dedicated to the host  communities in line with its  MOU with the government  while the LPG & propane would be bottled and sold. Part of the LPG shall be for domestic use within Otakikpo communities in order to support small scale industries.

    He said the  LPG plant  which is expected to be completed within 12 months would be a booster for Nigeria’s drive toward utilization of gas resources for domestic gas is expected to be completed within 12 months .

  • UNEP tasks Africa on green energy investments

    A new study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) “The Atlas of Africa Energy Resources” has made a strong economic case for Africa’s investment in green energy.

    Citing data from 54 African countries, the new study revealed the continent’s energy potential, pointing out that investment in renewable energy would strengthen its economic advancement.

    The Director and Regional Representative of the Africa Office for UNEP, Juliette Koudenoukpo, said investments in green energy are critical to attaining the 2030 agenda.

    “The Atlas makes a strong case that investments in green energy infrastructure can bolster Africa’s economic development and bring it closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “As such, it is an important policy guide for African governments as they strive to catalyze national development by making use of their energy resources,” Koudenoukpo said.

    The new study was released by UNEP and the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the World Economic Forum being held in Durban, South Africa.

    It showed both the potential and the fragility of the continent’s energy resources, which were at the heart of Africa’s socio-economic development.

    “While Africa is richly endowed with both renewable and non-renewable energy resources, its current energy production is insufficient to meet demand.

    “About a third of Africa’s population still lacks access to electricity and 53 per cent of the population depends on biomass for cooking, space heating and drying,” the report said.

  • Rethinking green energy

    One of the great challenges haunting the present administration and indeed all past administrations is and has always been the subject of Nigeria’s power deficiency. In Nigeria, power is erratic, unstable and outages are more than frequent. With an installation capacity of over 7,000MW (or 12,000MW depending on who you ask), Nigeria barely manages to generate, on average, a dismal 3,800MW of electricity to meet the needs of its growing population. Over the years, several issues have been cited as major causes of Nigeria’s paltry power generation capacity and output, including pipeline vandalism, corruption, lack of adequate infrastructure, mismanagement and incompetence.
    Just weeks ago, Nigeria’s power generation output dropped from around 3,959mw to 2,662mw. The sudden drop was attributed to low water levels at the hydro power stations and lack of gas due to pipeline attacks. And with a population of over 180 million people, Nigeria is only able to connect 40% of its citizens to the power grid. Lack of adequate electricity affects all strata of the economy, costing Nigeria billions per annum, while crippling the industrial, agricultural, & service sectors. This along with lack of adequate security, water and transportation is costing Nigerians an arm and a leg with devastating consequences for the road ahead.
    Why have we as a people not solved this problem? Are we created differently from our western or far eastern counterparts? Surely all men are created equal, and if so, those saddled with the responsibility of solving these issues over the years have no excuse. Our natural resources are abundant, technology is obtainable, and adequate man power is available. Why are we still in this quagmire? By comparison, South Africa has a generation capacity of 52,811MW; Egypt 30,000MW; Canada 130,000MW and the United States, 1.17 million MW. Despite their output, these countries are determined and projected to increase their generation capacity with set targets and innovative ideas to meet rising energy demands yet to come.
    Along with the electricity conundrum, Nigeria also faces a serious waste problem. Waste is a harbinger of various environmental impacts such as air, water, soil and pollution. Along with numerous risks to life and health, the desecration and decay of local communities and cities ruins the aesthetic quality and natural beauty of each state and, consequently, our country. Our answer over the years has been dumping our waste in open heaps and landfills, attracting vermin, disease and infection. Despite our pitfalls and mishaps, there is a solution to solving such foundational problems to the framework of our great nation. The answer lies in an effective and efficient waste-to-energy programme. By enacting a sufficient waste management initiative for Nigeria, we can create renewable energy that will help fuel economic development while adding value back to our natural ecosystem and biosphere. Investing in waste to energy conversion will not only help reduce our waste management issues, it will also help alleviate the electricity problem by providing an alternative/reliable source of energy.
    With evidential benefits abound, waste to energy conversion policies in Nigeria should be pursued aggressively. The advantages for a country struggling with excessive waste and rampant power outages are enormous. Although funding a huge project such as a waste to energy incineration plant can be taxing for state governments, the federal government can render assistance by commissioning large scale projects; that along with private sector participation can help see such programmes through to fruition.
    Currently, the two major power sources being used in Nigeria today are natural gas (70%) & hydro power (30%). With hydro power, disturbances and disruptions are usually blamed on low water levels, while thermal power (natural gas) mishaps remain the result of pipeline vandalism. Converting waste to energy on the other hand has none of the above stated weaknesses, and doubles as a waste disposal agent. Making sure Nigeria’s waste is put to good use, thus cleaning and lighting up the nation concurrently.
    In Sweden, less than 1% trash ends up in landfills. This is due in part to the 32 waste-to-energy plants that have been setup across the country. These plants incinerate over two million tons of trash annually; almost 50% of the waste produced by the country (the other 50% is recycled). Waste-to-energy plants in Sweden provide close to a million homes with heating and electricity, and thus, are responsible for reducing the amount of trash that ends up in landfills, as well as helping to reduce Sweden’s reliance on fossil fuels. The waste-to-energy project in Sweden is made more effective by the government’s insistence on the segregation of waste in both households and commercial institutions prior to incineration. Waste is a relatively cheap fuel and Sweden has, over time, developed a large capacity and skill in efficient and profitable waste treatment and management; so much so that Sweden imports 700,000 tonnes of waste from other countries yearly.
    Besides incineration (combustion), other viable waste-to energy/bioenergy methods include: anaerobic digestion (biogas) and gasification (syngas). Both methods can be used on a much smaller scale to power local communities, industries and hamlets around the country. The private sector should be encouraged in areas such as this. The more people/organisations involved in the generation of power, the closer we are to powering the whole nation.
    According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), bioenergy is the single largest renewable energy source today, providing 10% of the world with a primary energy supply. It also plays a crucial role in many developing countries where it provides energy for cooking. Apart from bioenergy, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and tidal energy are all forms of viable renewable energy sources. Diversification is important and Nigeria’s dependency on thermal energy is costing us dearly.
    There is no set pattern or formula for energy expansion. We can and should add to our current energy mix and capacity with great devotion. The United States for instance relies on; natural gas (33%), coal (33%), nuclear (20%), and renewables (including bioenergy, hydro & solar) (13%), as energy sources respectively. The key is focusing on certain areas and working vigorously to achieve set goals. Sweden (bioenergy), Kenya (geothermal), Morocco & Rwanda (solar), and Denmark (wind) are all major players in renewable energy. We must think ahead as a nation by investing in the future, embracing change and employing innovation into our resource bank to construct a brighter tomorrow.
    For too long, Nigerians have suffered the consequences of inadequate electricity, starkly diminishing efficiency in the workplace and at home. We must light the way to better understanding and planning for courses of action that meet the needs of our country. It is often said that only light can push out darkness, and in the same vein, only action can cure grief. Through waste-to-energy investment, we will light up the streets, roads, homes and minds of our nation, transforming our economy, and in time, our position on the global stage.

  • Investments in green energy hit $338b

    Former Director-General, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr Kandeh Yumkella, said investments in green energy have grown six times to over $338billion.
    Yumkella who was a special guest at the launch of N1billion Solar Energy Fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by the Bank of Industry (BoI) in Lagos at the weekend, advised the Federal Government not to miss out in ongoing green energy revolution. Government, he said, should encourage and invest heavily in renewable energy such as solar.
    The BoI intervention is to help boost productivity in that segment of the economy. Yumkella stated that the tremendous increase in investment was due to collapse in oil price.
    “In 2015, we suddenly saw the crash in oil price from over $100 per barrel to $40-45 per barrel. People thought that renewable energy will crash but that didn’t happen because in many countries, we were able to demonstrate that we can produce electricity cheaper than coal. South Africa led the way for electricity production through renewable. The same thing is happening in Dubai, Chile and China,” he added.
    Yumkella a Senegalese who was also a former United Nations Under-Secretary General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, has worked several years in Nigeria’s energy space.
    He was highlighting the need for Nigeria to maximally utilise the abundant renewable energy sources such as solar. He said: “Africa has missed a couple of global revolutions. We missed the agriculture revolution, and today we cannot feed ourselves and have to import so much food.
    He said: “We almost missed the digital (IT, computer) revolution. India and some Asian countries took advantage of the digital revolution. India after years of investment in basic education and computer science became a hub, companies and corporations in the United States and Europe moved their operations to India. India has programmers across the world. I praised the audacity of a company called Zinox who showed interest to assemble computers in Nigeria then because people thought it was impossible to do that in Nigeria.
    “Today, we have green energy revolution. It is new and just picking up and moving very fast, which means we have to be agile and innovative, and so having a million products is part of the innovation.”
    Yumkella recalled that when he worked as a UN representative in Nigeria, he saw companies in Kaduna, Aba and other places shut down for lack of energy. According to him, a study by UNIDO and World Bank carried out then showed energy accounts for a major part of cost of production. He cited a textile mill in Kano that each time power goes off,a line on the fabric under production becomes inferior.
    For Africa and Nigeria to optimally benefit from the green energy revolution, he said: “Time to integrate discussions on energy and industrialization because to create the expected jobs, there must be industrialization. The only avenue to create jobs and wealth is industrialisation but you cannot do it without reliable and affordable energy.
    “I fought hard in the United Nations to get SDG 7,that is my legacy within the UN. I fought for 10 years to make energy the central issue because without energy hospitals cannot run well and you cannot do proper agriculture or industrialisation.”

  • Green Energy earmarks N2b for power

    Green Energy earmarks N2b for power

    • To begin 10,000 bpd oil production

    Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), operator of the Otakikpo Marginal field in oil mining lease (OML 11), has set aside over N2billion to generate six megawatts (Mw) of electricity for its host communities.

    Already, the firm has commenced the installation generators for the power project.

    The oil field which is in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State is also gradually moving towards the production of 10,000 barrel per day (bpd).

    The preparation has put the indigenes of Ikuru town and the adjoining communities of Ayama Ekede, UgamaEkede, Asuk Ama and Asuk Oyet in jubilant mood because of the electricity project.

    It is expected to boost the economic empowerment of the fishing communities and it is part of the commitment of GEIL, the operator of the field and its technical partner, Lekoil towards utilising the gas produced on the marginal field for power generation and domestic gas production.

    Also, part of the package to transform the area economically is the plan to encourage the communities to establish an industrial park, where companies can leverage on the uninterrupted electricity for industrial use and small scale industries.

    The Director of Sustainable Development of GEIL, Mr Ayo Olojede told reporters in Abuja that the company is processing application with the regulator for the installation of gas processing facility to extract liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and condensate from the wet associated gas (AG) from the Otakikpo Wells.

    Under its corporate social responsibility, GEIL and its partner have designed a scheme with the communities that would involve local entrepreneurs to distribute the LPG within and outside communities.

    In addition, he said the firm has introduced a unique community engagement strategy of embarking on  community development projects under a Trust Fund of over N1 billion  in all the communities even when no oil,has been lifted from the oil field,adding that the communities have become partners in progress for the project

    The Otakikpo marginal field was designed as a pilot scheme to demonstrate the applicability of  the Small Scale Gas Utilisation Programme (SSGUP) concept  of the  Federal Government to eliminate gas flaring and promote utilisation of gas derived from the field to energise the economic potentials of the oil producing communities.

    It is hoped that the successful pilot will lead more marginal fields to embrace the concept. This will decrease gas flaring for small and medium exploration and productioncompanies in line with Federal Government’s zero gas flaring policy.

    Its Technical Director, Dr Bunu Alibe, said the oil firm has commenced a production test which is a critical milestone for the company and its technical partner towards meeting its objective of producing the field.

    The field which has the capacity of adding about 10,000 bpd to national production output within a short period of time has its 6 km pipeline nearing completion.