Nigeria - Ambitious goal for renewable energy production over the next decade

Energy Commission of Nigeria yesterday said the country is planning to produce about 15903MW of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2015.A report by the technical committee set up by Federal Government to evaluate the country's renewable energy potentials said the nation has about 15 sources from which it can expand its existing power generation capacities.

Speaking at the workshop on renewable energy development organized by ECN in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Abuja, the Director-General of ECN, Prof. Abubakar Sambo said government is developing a master plan that would enable the expliotation of five renewable energy sources in the areas of solar energy, small hydros, wind and biomass energy generating systems. He said the overall objective of the REMP is to articulate a roadmap for national development through the accelerated development and exploitation of renewable energy.The REMP while providing a comprehensive framework for developing renewable energy, will ensure expanded access to energy services to Nigerians, raising the standard of living, especially in rural areas.

The plan is exploit the new energy sources which in terms of quantity and cost will promote the achivement of equitable and sustainable growth and to enable transition from crud oil to less carbon intensive economy. The D-G listed a number of benefits and opportunities of the envisaged reform which include enhanced energy security from diversified and abundant sources of energy, including solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy, efficient and modern applications of biomass technologies, investment in small-scale hydro plants and wind power. The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Prof. Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe described the articulation of the renewable energy master plan as a most appropriate thing coming at a time when the country is implementing reforms of the energy sector.