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Tag: renewable energy

  • Lagos lawmaker makes case for renewable energy

    Renewable energy has been described as the panacea and future of power generation in order to overcome the problem of insufficient power supply.

    Member of Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Kosofe constituency 1, Hon. Ganiu Okanlawon Sanni stated this in his speech at the commencement of a training and empowerment programme he co-sponsored with Fun-nergy Technologies Company for his constituents.

    According to him, renewable energy solutions which are naturally replenished on human timescale such as sunlight, wind, tidal waves and geothermal heat is cheap clean energy devoid of emission of carbon dioxide and pollution.

    Addressing journalists, Okanlawon said it was a shared vision between him and the Managing Director of Fu-nergy, Mr. Nojeem Absulrasaq. “We decided that we should use the programme to better the lots of the people of my constituency.  With this programme, 250 of our teeming unemployed youths would be taken out of the labour market after the completion of the planned 4th phase, though the programme is starting with 30 trainees today.”

    He said although his duty as a lawmaker is to make laws, he however wants to put smiles on the faces of the people of his constituency.

    “The programme is practically meant to empower our people. For those who would be trained for the next three months, those who are outstanding among them would be gainfully employed and paid salaries,” he said.

     

  • Arnergy raises $9m for renewable energy

    A Nigerian utility firm, Arnergy, on Monday said it has raised $9 million in a Series A round of funding led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund), EDFI ElectriFI and Shells’ All On.

    Founder and CEO of Arnergy, Femi Adeyemo, who spoke in Lagos, said there are about 60 million generators in the country used for powering homes and business with attendant health hazards.

    He said the renewable energy solution will be deployed to 35,000 businesses and homes over the next 36 months begining from Lagos and Abuja, adding that it will expand to other parts of the country subsequently.

    He said: “We are excited to enter this next phase in Arnergy’s development with investors that share our vision of tackling the most pressing energy challenges across emerging market economies, starting with Nigeria. We believe that energy needs in Nigeria have surpassed rudimentary requirements of low power utilization and our product offerings are solving for reliability and not just access.”

    According to him, Arnergy’s distributed renewable energy systems harness the combination of solar power, superior storage solutions and proprietary remote management technologies to deliver scalable, reliable and affordable energy solutions that are tailored to tackle issues related to intermittency and grid unreliability. Since launch, Arnergy has delivered over 2 megawatts (Mw) of installed capacity and over 5MWh of storage capacity to business and residential clients across Nigeria.

    He said the firm’s market scaling ambitions was fueled by the influx of new capital, stressing that this will include new business models and partnership opportunities, as well as consumer financing and channel expansion activities. Targeted verticals for the company’s 5KW modular systems will include small businesses, healthcare, hospitality, financial services, agribusiness and education.

    Also speaking on the occasion, Carmichael Roberts of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, said Arnergy understands the West African market and its need for power reliability.

    Read Also: NERC’s revenue hits N5.5b

    He said: “Creating accessibility to reliable renewable energy sources is paramount to economic growth in this region. With Arnergy’s technology, we can significantly decrease carbon emissions and it’s a model that can be replicated all over the developing world.”

    EVP Clean Energy from Norfund, Mark Davis, said access to clean and stable energy is a prerequisite for job creation and development.

    “Norfund is proud to support the expansion of Arnergy which will provide Nigerian households and businesses on a weak-grid connection with a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable power solution to meet their daily needs,” he said.

    ElectriFI Fund Manager, Dominiek Deconinck, said the EU-funded access to energy impact facility, is thrilled to join such a strong group of investors backing visionary entrepreneurs who will positively impact thousands of local businesses in Nigeria.

    Speaking on the investment, CEO of Shell funded All On,  Wiebe Boer, said: “This is a deal that is particularly exciting to us at All On as a Nigerian impact investor because it reinforces our belief that local energy companies like Arnergy with innovative Nigerian technology and business models can attract investments from global giants like Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Norfund and ElectriFI, and are ready and able to compete on a global stage.”

    According to Damilola Ogunbiyi, the CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), “I am delighted that Arnergy, a home grown company and one of the market leaders for off grid energy in Nigeria, has reached this milestone to raise capital from such an impressive group of local and international investors. It is a validation of all the hard work the REA and all of our partners are doing to create an enabling environment for off grid development.

  • ‘Renewable energy use low in Nigeria’

    The use of renewable energy is very low in Nigeria, compared to other countries in Africa, Renewable Energy Promoter, Larry Segun-Lean has said.

    He noted that renewable energy was  not available to compensate for the  irregular supply of electricity in the country, adding that the energy source is just gaining recognition in the country.

    He said: ‘’Once there is no electricity from the national grid, people  leverage on generators to power their houses and factories.

    In an interview with The Nation, in Lagos,  Segun-Lean said  Nigeria is  largely dependent on hydrocarbons (fossil fuel)  for  growth, stressing that the use of renewable  energy would continue to be low, until the Federal Government  gives  attention to  renewable energy sources, including solar.

    He advised the government to  review the performance of the nation’s energy sector, with a view to finding solutions to the  problems  facing the country.

    According to him, Nigeria  is endowed with human and mineral  resources, adding that with proper  chaneling of skills and resources, energy problems would be solved in the country.

    Hydrocarbons, Larry- Segun said,  has unstable future globally, adding that hydrocarbons causes environmental problems such as global warming.

    This, he said, implies that Nigeria has to look  for means of deepening the use of renewable sub-sector, stressing that any attempt to do this, would bring about growth  in the use of renewable energy in the country.

    On poverty, he urged the government to address the issue, by putting in place policies that would cater for the welfare needs of the people.

    ‘’In this case, the role of government is to  provide incentive for the private sector in order to improve  the use of renewables and other energy sources in Nigeria.’’ he added.

    He said renewable energy is another area, which the Federal Government can look at in its bid to diversify the economy and further    bring about growth in the country.

    He said if opportuntiies in renewable energy are well explored,   economic growth would be achieved.

    One way of impacting on the economy, he said, is in the area of jobs creation, which in the long run, would lead to growth in the Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

    He said there was hardly any part of the country that cannot contribute to the energy solution in Nigeria.

    He said be it Biomass, wind and other energy sources, Nigeria can  derive opportunties for growth.

    “In a community where there is accumulation of sunshine for solar power, if people are educated about it, business people could sell solar panels and it be erected and the entire village would be electrified”, he  said.

    Renewable energy, he said,  can be derived  from sun,  wastes and other sources, urging the government to explore them for growth.

  • Govt urged to embrace renewable energy

    Professor of Chemical Engineering and recipient of the 2018 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award, Adesoji Adesina, has warned that it may take 2,000 years for Nigeria to catch up with the developed world if the government does not embrace renewable energy.

    Adesina spoke while delivering the 2019 First Award Winners’ Lecture of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) – the body that identifies candidates for the NNOM (Nigeria’s highest recognition for academic achievements and innovations) at the University of Lagos yesterday. It was titled: Making the Case for Agro-Based Energy Development: A National Priority for Sustainable Economy.

    “It will take us nearly 2,000 years to get to where developed countries are; if we don’t change anything; if we just told our hands it will take us an unacceptably long time to get to where we want to be.

    “So the present renewable policy we have must change,” he said.

    The university don who teaches at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia, said there was a correlation between Human Development Index (HDI) and energy production and consumption.

    He said countries that were at the same level with Nigeria some decades ago had achieved much more because they abandoned fossil fuels for renewable energy.

    He gave example of Norway, an oil producing country which depends on renewable energy to meet its electricity demands.

    To remedy the situation he called for a departure from fossil fuels  and investments in biomass refineries that would meet energy needs without destroying the environment.

    He said biomass resources in Nigeria was rich and varied could support sustainable development.

    “The circular nature of agricultural resources makes it a veritable framework for sustainable energy development because of cyclic flow of material and energy,” he said.

     

  • Norway-Nigeria partnership to boost agric, renewable energy

    Norway is seeking Nigeria’s partnership to boost agriculture and renewable energy. Its Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, who spoke during a seafood festival in Lagos, underlined the importance of the bilateral partnership as an opportunity for new solutions that will boost food production, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    MANY Nigerians rely on the fisheries sector for food. The sector supports 10 to 12 per cent of the nation’s population. It is also expected to provide for more people in future. However, the industry is facing challenges such as poor adoption of technologies to increase production volume. So much is lost every year through post-harvest fish losses, which tend to be greater in small-scale fisheries.

    Notwithstanding, the sector holds tremendous promise in response to surging demand for food.

    The reason for the increased optimism, according to stakeholders, is the ample room for catching up with more productive technologies.

    Stakeholders believe improved handling, processing and value-addition could address the issue. They also believe that it is also vital to extend good practices, build partnerships, raise awareness, and develop capacity and relevant policies and strategies.

    One country ready to offer Nigeria the support to grow its agriculture sector is Norway. Specifically, the country is offering assistance to Nigeria to boost seafood business.

    Norway’s seafood industry has continued to grow faster than any other major food production sector in the world. The country is the world’s second largest exporter of seafood, with 31 million Norwegian seafood meals consumed daily in more than 140 countries.

    Speaking at the Norwegian Seafood Festival in Lagos, its Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, said Norway’s seafood sector has seen a dramatic rise in volume output, adding that Nigeria is the largest importer of Norwegian stock fish and stock fish heads.

    Norway, the Ambassador said, has been exporting stock fish to Nigeria since 1890s, and its seafood represents an important source of protein to many Nigerians. Norway produces only optimum stockfish and stock fish heads.

    In 2016, Norway exported almost 7000 metric tonnes of stockfish to Nigeria. In its fish exports to Nigeria, mackerel takes the largest share with over 16,000 metric tonnes imported by Nigeria in 2016. He said Nigeria is one of the five largest importers of mackerel from Norway, adding that Norway’s stock fish are very rich in Omega3 fatty acids.

    Stockfish, he said, is produced in the clear, cold waters of Lofoten in Norway. Stockfish, salmon and trout remain the largest species. Kjemprud explained that the seafood sector in Nigeria is a potential source of revenue and job creation and that his government was ready to work with the Nigerian government and the private sector to help the industry grow sustainably. He further noted that Nigeria can cooperate with Norway to improve and modernise its fishing industry, which produces just one third of its seafood demand. Kjemprud said Norway’s development policy is designed to promote measures that can lift people out of poverty. In Norway, priority is given to agriculture, private sector development and job creation, climate, renewable energy and environment.

    Norway´s electricity generation is 97 per cent renewable and its government has set ambitious targets for even more sustainable energy use.  Norway’s clean energy is a valuable resource, providing the basis for wealth creation and jobs in the production and sale of power and system services. It is also an essential input factor in energy-intensive industries. In addition, it creates value from the supply of technology and equipment.

    According to him, Norway is ready to support Nigeria to promote clean energy initiatives in bio-mass, solar, and wind technologies, and increase energy efficiency. Kjemprud said Norway can do much more with Nigeria in the energy sector, strengthen Nigerians’ and the manufacturing industry’s access to electricity.

    Kjemprud stated that although the value of the trade between Nigeria and Norway is difficult to calculate, the embassy estimated that it has reached $30 billion (N10.80 trillion).

    The Ambassador said there were 50 Norwegian companies in Nigeria. According to Director, Central and West Africa, Norwegian Seafood Council, Trond Kostveit, Cod fish has so far been successful in the consumer market.

    According to him, Norway´s global seafood success has been sustained in terms of quality, tradition and sustainability.

    Kostveit said his country wants to collaborate with importers to bring quality seafood to Nigeria.

    He expressed the wishes of the Norwegian government and exporters to assist the Nigerian fish importers.

    Digital Marketing Manager, Norwegian Seafood Council, Robert Isaksen, said the Council recognises and rewards sustainable fishing practices, adding that Norway is ready to support Nigeria introduce measures and guidelines to ensure that Norwegian seafood is always safe and enjoyable to eat.

    On the festival, Isaksen said it was designed to, as part of an initiative, promote the industry to Nigerians. The Seafood festival showcased some of the best seafood Norway has to offer. The competition aspect of the festival was a fantastic way to recognise the incredible talent of budding chefs using Norway seafood to prepare outstanding dishes. The event drew interest from key players in the seafood industry, including processors, distributors, foodservice and retail operators and was opened to all businesses and organisations with an interest in seafood. Six finalists developed creative seafood dishes for the competition. Organisations supporting the event, include Mills showcased their products.

    The Norwegian government’s goal for the future is ambitious – becoming the world’s leading seafood nation, with five million tonnes of sustainable aquaculture production in 2050.

  • Renewable energy and sprouting issues

    In Nigeria, about 60% to 70% of the population have no access to electricity. This persistent power crisis necessitated the government’s interest in alternative energy sources. As a result, the Nigerian government initiated designs to promote investments in renewable energy.

    Over the years, there have therefore been directional policies and legislations on renewable energy, namely:

    (a) National Energy Policy 2003 – The main goal of the policy was to create energy security through a robust energy supply mix, by diversifying the energy supply and energy carriers.

    (b) Nigeria Renewable Energy Master Plan 2005 and 2012 (NREMP) – The master plan provided a regulatory framework for achieving the objective of maintaining a renewable portfolio standard, creating fiscal and market incentives, integrating renewable energy into non-energy sector policies, establishing and reinforcing regulatory institutions and also, standardizing renewable energy products.

    (c) Renewable Electricity Policy Guidelines 2006 – This was made to direct government’s vision, policies and objectives for promoting renewable energy in Nigeria’s power sector. It mandated the government on the expansion of electricity generation from renewables to at least five percent of the total electricity generated and a minimum of five terawatt hours (TWH) of electricity generation in the country.

    (d) National Bio-fuels Policy and Incentives 2007 – The key thrust of the policy was to develop and promote the domestic fuel ethanol industry, through the utilisation of agricultural products. The input of the policy to the renewable energy regulatory environment included the establishment of a Bio-fuels Commission, issuance of a bio-fuels regulation by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, establishment of a bio-fuels research agency, funding of research and development in bio-fuels development and incentives scheme for participants in the bio-fuels development sub-sector.

    (e) National Renewable Energy and Efficiency Policy 2015 – The policy was endorsed as a policy document on April 20, 2015 by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). It is the first and only coordinated tool to drive renewable energy development and improve energy efficiency in Nigeria. The policy identified and accepted that the national grid is limited in reach, and so saw renewable energy as the best solution to bridge the gap. It mandated that the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) be set up and the implementation timeline agreed. The policy projects a national generation profile of 6,156 megawatts (MW) and 12,801MW of hydropower, 3.4MW and 11,7MW of biomass power, 1,343MW and 6,831MW of solar power and 631MW and 3,211mw of wind energy by 2020 and 2030. It finally mandated the government to provide guarantees and financial frameworks to stimulate the expansion of Nigeria’s renewable electricity market.

    There was also the foreign-sponsored project; the four-year (2014-2018) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (REEEP), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Power Africa.

    The federal government has also put together a mini-grid regulation that addresses issues like tariffs and compensation for mini-grid developers. The mini-grid regulation only applies to projects with an energy capacity of between 100 KW and 1 MW.  These are positive steps toward generating power through clean energy.

    Notwithstanding these positive enablements, there are issues bedevilling the efficient development of renewable energy projects in Nigeria.

    It is a known fact that financing is a huge clog in the power sector. Renewable energy projects require a huge capital outlay and financial resources for their effective execution. The absence of consistent cash flow and financing options for such investments constitute a barrier to the development of renewable energy projects.

    Renewable energy requires up-to-date technologies which is capital-intensive in nature. Since such projects involve tapping energy from non-conventional and non-traditional sources, it therefore requires new and novel technologies which, in most instances, are not cheap and cost-effective. The non-availability of these modern technologies in harnessing the huge potential of renewable energy in Nigeria has invariably constituted a clog in the wheel of the development of renewable energy projects in Nigeria.

    It was commendable when news broke that the federal government through the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) had signed the front-runner Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with 14 companies, who had contracted to build 1.125 MW capacity of renewable power in the Nigeria. The agreement demonstrated the government’s commitment to diversify Nigeria’s power industry. However, there are recent reports that the companies have not kicked-off any project, which has made NBET recalcitrant on signing further PPAs, as focus is now on getting the companies to implement the agreement. If this trend persists, it will significantly set back the advancement of the renewable energy sector.

    In the power sector, there are four categories of licenses, which include generation, transmission, distribution and trading, all issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Aside these, a company contracted to development solar plants have to get an Environmental Impact Assessment Permit. For on-grid energy players, it takes about two years to get the required licenses and to finalize the purchase agreement with NBET, and about a year for off-grid energy generation. These factored periods further delay the targets set out in the Renewable Energy Action Plan.

    The present liquidity crisis in the power chain is also a problem clogging progression in the renewable sector. This would mean that when (and if) the 14 companies generate solar power, the NBET will have difficulties buying the generated power, due to unremitted receipts from the already credit-crunched DisCos.

    This is paramount, and is almost an inherent problem with many legislations. There are a spate of regulations, policies and master plans for renewable energy projects, but it appears that there is no effective legal enforcement machinery. This notionally inhibits the development of renewable energy projects in Nigeria.

    To cut-off life from these issues, the government should focus on accelerating the implementation of its plans on renewable energy. This should begin with easing the application process for licenses, thereby shortening the turnaround time for obtaining such licenses.

    The government should also make commitments to leverage on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), to aid the financing of renewable energy projects across the power value chain. While we expect improved liquidity in the power sector based on monetary interventions, it is also suggested that the NBET continues pressing the solar companies to begin the contracted constructions of the solar plants.

    It is hoped that concrete efforts such as the suggested will improve investments in the renewable energy sector and also fast-pace the development of present renewable energy projects. Accordingly, it is also hoped that this will preclude the power sector from being entirely dependent on fossil-type or non-renewable energy sources.

     

    • Ezebuike is a legal practitioner with focus on energy power law and commercial litigation.

  • Renewable energy: Ogun partners independent power provider

    The Ogun State government and Independent Energy Provider have restated their commitment towards the actualisation of the proposed Ogun State/UKPA Independent Power Plant in Ota Industrial Estate.

    The Consultant to the State Government on Energy, Chief Taiwo Fagbemi, broke the news at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The governor’s aide urged industrialists to cooperate with the government to enable it realise the project.

    He said all parties would benefit from the project as it was a metering process and pay-as-you-go.

    In a statement by his Press Officer, Mrs. Kemi Ogungbade, the governor’s aide said the waste-to-energy project would reduce cost of power generation among the industries, adding that this could be used for workers’ welfare.

    According to him, it will also be a waste-to-wealth opportunity for the residents.

    Fagbemi said the project would improve business activities in the area and help to develop infrastructure as well as boost government’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Plant, Chief Ewie Aimienwauu, stressed that the proposed energy initiative chose the state as it had become investment destination of choice through various infrastructural projects and facelift by the Ibikunle Amosun administration.

    Aimienwauu said the new technology had been adopted by most develop countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), adding that the project, which would gulp about $35 million, would be jointly provided by the state government and his energy company.

    He said, on completeionexplained that the project, on completion, would be powered by the government, while the agency would be in charge of distribution to consumers, saying, the power plant would be restricted to industries in the area.

  • Experts urge politicians, religious bodies, groups to adopt renewable energy for empowerment

    Worried by the need to address the consequences of climate change across the country, politicians, corporate organisations, religious bodies, trade groups, among others, have been urged to incorporate the distribution of renewable energy solution devices in their various efforts at empowering individuals and small scale business enterprises.

    The Country Director, NexGen Energy, Mrs. Ezinne Ibe, made the appeal while explaining to journalists the importance of embracing renewable sources of power, which she described as the future of power solution.

    According to Ibe, developing countries and advanced economies of the world have already embraced alternative solutions to addressing their power needs and as a good way of eradicating the negative health and environmental hazards associated with the use of fossil fuels.

    She noted that using renewable energy is not as expensive as many people think, aside the health and environmental friendliness of renewable energy. Her organisation, in collaboration with international partners, has provided energy solutions and devices that could be used to empower barbers, hair stylists, tailors, artisans and other small scale entrepreneurs with minimal energy requirements.

    Commending the government for the efforts at opening the doors for alternative power sources through the private sector, Ibe stated that there is still room for improvement.

     

  • Group urges govt to invest more in renewable energy

    The Co-ordinator, 350.Org, Lagos, Idowu Esuku, has urged the Federal Government to invest more in alternative energy as fossil fuels and coal mining are increasingly becoming unsustainable for our environment.

    Esuku spoke at a Peaceful Street Walk organised by 350 Nigeria to commemorate the Decolonised Nigeria Campaign in Lagos.

    The rally started at Opebi Allen Roundabout and ended at the Lagos State House of Assembly. The participants walked, dancing and chanting “break free from fossil fuel and embrace renewable energy in Nigeria.”

    Esuku said many countries are moving from fossil energy to hydro, wind and solar as their source of energy because they are environment friendly and sustainable for the environment.

    He said climate change is a global phenomenon, which affects all the countries of the world. It is a threat to human, animals, and plant existence.

    He noted that Nigeria is still struggling with the effect of climate change. Many research and statistics have shown that the effect of global warming in Nigeria. Coal mining is a big threat to the environment.

    He attributed the increasing cases of life threatening diseases to the use of fossil fuel as people, especially in local areas in the Niger Delta bear the burden associated with fossil fuels exploration with no respite coming soon.

    Sadly, he stressed that Nigeria is spending billions of naira to cushion the effect of the challenges facing the energy sector, but that has only made little difference in the amount of energy supply in many areas in Nigeria.

    He posited that instead of financing projects that would produce profoundly negative environmental impact, the government should consider projects that tap into Nigeria’s numerous renewable and low-cost resources.

    He was of the opinion that the Federal Government has a moral obligation to leave behind a well-off earth for our children. The land, oceans, forest reserve  and arctic are all commonwealth owners by mankind.

    “We demand our local leaders to commit to building a fossil free world and put the people and justice first before profits. We want to end the era of fossil fuel and save the climate we depend on,” he said.

     

  • Renewable energy: Roadmap for addressing climate change

    Renewable energy: Roadmap for addressing climate change

    At a time power crisis becomes unbearable, clean energy, otherwise known as renewable energy remains the main solution to tackling the intractable problem of unreliable national grid in the country.

    Of course, it bears stating the fact that fossil energy sources such as oil and gas are extensively exploited in Nigeria, most are exported or wasted through leakages or flaring according to the African Development Bank (AfDB) just as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IIPCC) further asserts that burning of fossil fuel and the attendant increase in GhG emissions fuels global warming.

    Impact of gas flaring

    At 17.2 billion metric-cube of natural gas per year along with crude oil exploration, the Niger Delta accounts for 40% of the gas flared in Africa every year, according to Anslem Ajugwo of the Department of Haematology, Madonna University, Elele.

    Gas flaring, is explained as the venting of gas without burning by scientists. It releases methane, which together with CO2 constitutes an estimated 80% of global warming.

    Sea level rise

    A direct consequence of climate change, sea level rise has continued to cause extensive devastation in states across the country. Recently, loss of lives in Niger state arising from sweeping floods was reported. Similar occurrences have also left a trail of destruction in other states notably Lagos, Rivers and Oyo.

    Power cuts: Regular feature in Nigeria´s power sector

    With an estimated 184 million inhabitants according to the World Bank, Nigeria generates slightly above 4,000 megawatts of power. To put this into further context, South Africa with an estimated population of 82 million generates 34,000 megawatts according to ESKOM, the country´s electricity public utility body.

    Recently, Senator Mustapha Bukar (APC, Katsina North) who doubles as Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, National Assembly expressed pessimism on the chances of resolving the ugly power situation any time soon.

    He observed that an installed power generation capacity of over 12,000 megawatts notwithstanding, the country has only been able to achieve 4,000 megawatts at any time.

    While lamenting the inefficiency in the system, he said: “Nigeria has an installed capacity of 12,522 Megawatts of power, non-available capacity of 5,300; non-operational capacity of 3,180; meaning the amount…available is just over 4,000 Megawatts out of 12,500.”

    He further added, “We have transmission loss of 228, a distribution loss of 447 Megawatts; at the end of the day, only 3,800 Megawatts reach the consumer. And we have commercial loss of more than 36 percent.”

     

    Solar Panels installed in Edo state, Nigeria as part of a rural electrification project. Photo: courtesy of Quartz Africa

     

    Roadmap

    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) identifies two response templates to climate change viz: Mitigation of climate change by reducing GHG emissions and Adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Clean energy should be extensively exploited in order to mitigate the effects of climate change as well as reduce power deficits in the country.

    With 17% of Nigeria´s population completely out of the insufficient national grid, the expansion of off-grid power solutions is even more expedient. Fortunately, generating electricity from renewables and clean energy sources like solar, wind and biogas is increasingly cheaper and readily available.

    Solar can bridge major energy deficits in rural areas and particularly in northern Nigeria where comparative favourable weather conditions exist.

    According to the Independent Energy Watch Initiative, the country receives abundant sunshine all year round ranging from 6.70kwh/m2/day of horizontal solar radiation in Borno State to as high as 6.07/kwh/m2/d in the Federal Capital Territory. Furthermore and as Derek Markham of Renewable Energy World observes, another area with big potential is off-grid solar and battery storage for people that don’t have grid power.

    Government renewable energy policy

    Although favourable conditions exist in the country, Nigeria has thus far attracted only little investment. The country has recently introduced reforms aimed at opening up the sector. Mr Nico Tyabji, Climatescope Africa Coordinator, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in an interview in one of the dailies stated that “apart from the feed-in tariff, Nigeria has a range of policies – from renewable energy targets to soft loans to a biofuels blending mandate to encourage renewables. The problem is that many of them aren’t operational. So the government has a job to do to clarify to the private sector exactly how these things work and whether they’re in force yet, because at the moment there’s a lot of confusion.”

    Call to action

    Beside environmental benefits, clean energy solutions stand to devolve the single grid system, leading to efficiency and sufficiency. This is potentially a win-win situation; hence government must show political will as the enabler to see that Nigeria embraces the clean energy revolution.