Renewable energy can boost national development – – experts
By Constance Athekame
Energy experts say renewable energy has so much potential to grow the power sector, thereby, promoting national development.
The experts spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the inauguration of the newly elected members of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (REEEA-A)/ a one-day media training.
Prof. Magnus Onuoha, the President REEEA-A) said that renewable energy and energy efficiency had so much potential for women empowerment, youth development and national growth.
“But we barely have a cadre of local indigenous developers as most of the products and finance were not accessible to Nigerian developers.
“Here in Nigeria, the fuel subsidy removal, the Electricity Act recently signed into law, rising cost of energy dominant systems and measures, have showed that it is time for a critical rapprochement and behavioural change toward renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“Not just as a policy document but as an implementable system for domestic, rural, urban, commercial and industrial development,” he said.
Onuoha said that in 2019, seven associations came together and saw the need for a common voice in the renewable energy and energy efficient sector.
He listed the associations as Association of Energy Engineers – AEE, Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria – CREN, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria –REAN, Renewable Energy Associations Society of Nigeria – RAESON.
Others he said were the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria, – SEPAN Women in Renewable Energy Association – WIRE-A
According to him, with the generous support of development partners the associations had remained strong.
“And after three years of trying to get everyone on the same page, representing the industry and associations within the industry and at the same time sensitising government on the roles Nigerian developers have to play.
“We are taking it not just one step further but reinforcing the foundation that has been laid, and building multiple stories of vertical integrations that will change the industry,” he said.
Onuoha said that there was the need to develop the capacity of developers, installers, advocates and policy formulators. If we do not have capacity, we shall be at the mercy of others.
He said that without the requisite capacity, indigenous expertise could not be built to sustain national growth.
“With enough capacity, we can create green jobs, create employment, create entrepreneurs and evolve women and youth empowerment.
“As the President of REEEA-A, I, alongside my colleagues on the Governing Council pledge to work assiduously to ensure that renewable energy and energy efficiency become the go-to technologies to power Nigeria, ”he said.
On her part, Mrs Joy Ogaji, the Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), said that the introduction of consolidated power framework that includes cleaner renewable energy sources in Nigeria’s energy mix would facilitate the development of renewable energy solutions.
Ogaji said that there was the need to introduce cut–edge technology to improve power distribution and monitoring and also encourage private sector investment.
She said that the proposed reforms are expected to improve the competitiveness, financial viability and service delivery in the sector.
According to her, the payment/liquidity and security of supply as major challenges in the region should be looked into to ensure that the region realise regional power integration to its fullest potential.
“There is the need to put in place several measures to improve confidence in the regional power market such as
”Improving sector creditworthiness, through a well-designed and securitisation model to encourage the provision of guarantees.
Ogaji said that for West Africa to ensure energy security for her growing economies, developing a strategic framework through regional integration coordinated and bench marked must be promoted when developing respective energy sectors.
“There is also urgent need to encourage move towards willing seller/willing buyer contracts to effectively balance risk and reward in the sector,” she said. (NAN)(www.nanews,ng)
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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams
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