Renewable energy project to displace 1million generators – REAN

By Bisola Adeyemo

The President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Dr Segun Adaju, has said that renewable energy projects in Nigeria will displace one million generators by 2030 and replacing them with rooftop solar.

He spoke at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) virtual Lagos Solar Energy Conference and Expo 2021, on Friday with the theme: “Exploring Opportunities in the Renewable Energy Sector for Sustainable Development”, the maiden edition.

It was a forum at which stakeholders said that exploring the untapped abundance of various renewable energy resources would address the country’s electricity deficit, Environews reported.

While listing some barriers to renewable energy uptake in the country , Adaju said limited access to finance at different stages of project, high cost of renewable energy technology solutions, lack of access to knowledge and adequate capacity.

Adaju also cited administrative and regulatory barriers, underdeveloped local supply chain and present market distortion.

“PPPs allow governments to utilise the efficiency and expertise of the private sector in providing public services which have been traditionally delivered by the public sector.

”The mechanism also allows governments to transfer either fully or partially the risk of owning and operating an infrastructure asset to a private party, which can reduce the overall project cost to the governments,” he said.

Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, President, Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria, called for an integrated campaign to drive public enlightenment on the need to change the negative public perception of solar energy.

“Among the renewable energy sources, solar has become most prominent within the last few years due to the rapidity of deployment, spate of new investments and the work of the rural electrification agency in developing off-grid solar plants for rural electrification.

“The campaign on solar should incorporate media collaboration, standards and certification, affordable payments, improved political will and professional inputs, integrate solar into government programmes, and buy-in commitment of local communities.”