Rack Centre, a leading Nigerian data centre, recently hosted the Waste-to-Energy Summit in Lagos, focusing on innovative and sustainable waste management solutions.
The event, was organized in partnership with the NYSC Community Development Service, emphasizing environmental sustainability.
Dr. Gbadegesin, representing the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, highlighted the urgent need for effective waste management in Lagos, a city grappling with a population of 20 million and daily waste generation of 30,000 tons.
He stressed the importance of transforming landfills to mitigate environmental hazards.
Lars Johannisson elaborated on Rack Centre’s commitment to sustainability, emphasizing energy efficiency in data centre operations.
“We prioritize energy consumption management, with a focus on power usage effectiveness (PUE). Lower PUE signifies more efficient power infrastructure,” he stated.
Johannisson urged Nigerians to adopt renewable energy solutions, underscoring the necessity of moving away from traditional energy sources to achieve sustainability goals.
“Renewable energy is crucial for a sustainable future. We must integrate a mix of renewables to power our homes and businesses,” he advised.
Ezekiel Egboye, COO of Rack Centre, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the company’s efforts in deploying the IFC EDGE platform for their upcoming 12MW data centre facility.
“Our goal is to align with global sustainability metrics and reduce our environmental impact,” Egboye noted.
He also pointed out that transforming the Olusosun landfill could create significant job opportunities for the youth.
Dolapo Olaoluwa, the convener of the summit, emphasized the importance of the event in raising awareness about waste-to-energy technologies.
“Countries like Germany and Singapore have successfully integrated these technologies, providing a reliable renewable energy source. Implementing similar solutions in Lagos could enhance our waste management system and reduce fossil fuel dependence,” he said.
The summit aimed to foster partnerships between industry experts, policymakers, and community members to develop sustainable waste management solutions. It served as a platform to explore cutting-edge technologies and discuss best practices for turning waste into energy, with the Olusosun landfill as a focal point.
Key figures in attendance included Adetayo Odusole, Head of Sustainability Coordination at Rack Centre; Dolapo Olaoluwa, Convener of the NYSC CDS Project; and Lars Johannisson, CEO of Rack Centre. Other notable participants were Yetunde Baderinwa, NYSC Lagos State Coordinator; Olaide Ayodele-Taiwo, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer at NESREA; and Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA.
The Waste-to-Energy Summit highlighted the critical need for innovative waste management strategies to ensure a sustainable future for Lagos and beyond.