Nigeria to generate 20,000mw electricity from renewable energy

By Musa Adamu
AbujaFederal government has, in a draft of renewable energy (RE) and efficiency policy to stakeholders, prosed to generate about 2,483 mwof electricity to the national grid by 2015.
Director of the electrical inspectorate services (EIS) of the Ministry of Power, AbayomiAdebisi, made this known during a presentation of the draft policy to be appraised by stakeholders before being forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Apart from the 2,483mw target for 2015, the draft also seek generate about 8,188mw for 2020 and 23,134mw for 2030.
“Therefore, renewable sources will contribute about 1.3% of Nigeria’s energy mix by 2015, with further projections of eight percent for 2020 and 16% for 2030,” he said.
He further explained that large and small hydro power plants would be contributing as much as 2,121mw and 140mw by 2015, while solar power projects would also be adding 117mw.
He said the policy was developed with a grant and technical support from the German enterprise (GIZ).
“We sourced for grants from GIZ, then we pooled over 30 documents from people who had once done something on renewable energy. We got a committee of experts to develop the policy, and the draft was approved by the ECOWAS Center for renewable energy and energy efficiency (ECREE) in May 2013.”
Mr Adebisi made it clear what the ministry sought to do were not in conflict with that of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) which had started developing a National Energy Policy (NEP) document last year.
“We are not trying to be a rival with ECN since they are working on NEP, but we are trying to move the sector forward with the national renewable energy and energy efficiency policy.”
He further explained that a number of incentives had been suggested in the draft and more should be underway, saying a call had been made from the ministry.
“Aiteo is interested in changing lives by powering the economies of Africa and the Sub-Saharan region for sustainable growth”
“Aiteo is interested in changing lives by powering the economies of Africa and the Sub-Saharan region for sustainable growth”