Many Nigerians believe that the only way to solve the country’s long-standing electricity crisis is through independent power generation, as they have since lost faith in the government’s ability to decisively solve this problem which has atrophied. significantly the growth of the Nigerian economy for years. . Well, it will be hard to blame people who are trying to meet the basic needs of electricity supply and also keep businesses running without much trouble.
As we now know the environmental threats and inconveniences caused by power generators, it is very encouraging to see some effort by government, research institutes and private stakeholders in developing alternative energy sources for power generation. Solar energy, which is the most abundant of all available renewable energy sources, has been showing off lately and I think it’s about time we start taking the prospects of this energy source more seriously.
Taking into account the current problems with the unbundling of the electricity sector, deregulation and the increase in generation capacity, we can begin to point out some positive aspects of the evident change in approach of some government factions with respect to solar energy. Don’t get me wrong, Nigeria’s interest in solar power dates back decades, but the after effect so far has been drastically minimal.
ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK
In addition to the abundant oil and gas resources we currently possess, Nigeria is still fortunate to be situated in sub-Saharan Africa, a region described by the International Council for Science as having the best solar resources in the world. Nigeria has 485.1 million MWh/day of solar energy in natural units and we enjoy an average of 6.2 hours of sunshine per day. Despite this, roughly more than 60% of Nigeria’s 170 million people lack access to electricity. Our main sources of electricity come from hydroelectricity and gas and we currently have an installed capacity of 5,600MW of electricity, but we generate less than 5,000MW due to a large number of problems.
The use of solar electricity systems helps capture solar energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into electricity. This resource has been found to have the ability to provide more energy than all the fossil fuels we currently have if properly harnessed and used to generate cheap, green electricity. It may eventually play a role in reducing our huge reliance on fossil fuels like oil and gas for power generation.
CRITICAL CHALLENGES
According to the United Nations, rural-urban migration in sub-Saharan Africa will have increased by 87% in 2030 since the 1950s. Taking Nigeria into account, this will definitely put more pressure on the existing electricity infrastructure that has not improved significantly over the past few years. decades despite the government’s goal of generating 297,900MW by 2030.
One of the key challenges in investing in solar energy is the initial capital outlay, which is high. Solar panels are reportedly expensive to install and maintain. Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, a former FCT minister, was quoted as saying that it costs up to N500,000 per panel and another source says that it costs up to N200,000 to maintain. More recently, however, the cost of solar technology has dropped by 40% in the last two years. Our neighbors, Ghana, announced plans last December to build Africa’s largest solar photovoltaic power plant which will generate 155 MW and increase its generating capacity by 6%. According to Blue Energy, the UK company behind this deal, cost cutting and an enabling feed-in tariff policy played a key role in helping get the project off the ground.
Another challenge faced in the use of this energy source is the daily maintenance and operation of the solar infrastructure. It seems that there are not enough staff with the technical wherewithal to manage these facilities and ensure that they run at the proper speed. In 2005, the Lagos state government achieved a remarkable feat in solar power installations when it launched a rural solar electrification project in the village of Onisowo in the local government area of Amuwo -Odofin- a village that was isolated from the national network. In the last two decades, states such as Zamfara, Bauchi, Benue, Bayelsa and Rivers have also partnered with the World Bank and the Nigerian Energy Commission to carry out similar projects in rural communities across the country. Despite the complaints about the efficiency and maintenance of these facilities, we have seen that we have the ability to put these structures in place from which we can take positive things and definitely build on them.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is of great importance that we rapidly harness alternative energy sources that are cleaner and safer due to the country’s vulnerability to climate change. Since we have established an existing and growing interest in this technology, the government should significantly help fund home solar energy research at research institutes and universities. Government subsidies will also come in handy in importing solar panels and other equipment that cannot be manufactured locally. This will support independent investors and individuals who have an interest in the energy source.
Borrowing the concept of power from the UK, the government can also encourage independent electricity generation through solar panels by providing further incentives for consumers and providers who choose to invest in this source. It will always be a comfort to the ear to know that you will be rewarded for generating your own electricity. Installing and understanding this infrastructure is still considered by many to be technical and expensive, but through extensive awareness programs and public and private sector initiatives, this process can be streamlined and will eventually be cheaper to install and use in the long run.
Finally, in terms of affordability, Nigerians have shown that they can invest money in power generation when presented with a better alternative. We can see the percentage of people who use power generators and inverters in rural and urban cities in Nigeria, which gives us an idea of how they will handle the prospect of solar energy if the installation process is simplified and the equipment is cheaper and easy to get.