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Experts urge Nigerians to embrace solar power

By on December 11, 2015

Solar energy experts have called on the federal government to formulate policies that will encourage Nigerians to adopt solar as primary source of power in the country.

The experts bemoaned the situation where Nigeria still generates only about 4,000 megawatts of electricity, which could not solve the country’s electricity needs and meet her development aspirations.

According to the experts, the grid network for distribution ought to be completely retooled if Nigeria is to avoid a catastrophe.  Unfortunately, the nuclear option does not exist given the poor level of our technology development, the experts observed.

They argued that there was a national need to continually re-invent how energy is generated, conserved and consumed.

Leading discussions at the forum, the CEO of Cloud Energy, Mr. Theophilus Nweke, argued that the geo-thermal installations are not generating electricity to keep pace with the growth in demand. He observed that developed nations are working on a policy of outlawing hydro carbons energy because of its contributions to pollution and global warming. From the remaining sources of energy – solar and wind; Nweke said, solar is preferred because of available technology and abundance of sunshine today and forever.

Furthermore, he said, Solar is dependable, safe and plentiful but its adoption is hindered by investor and user reluctance tied to the unrewarding habits of the traditional way of providing electricity. The solar energy academics, resellers and installers agreed that the only way to sustainable development for Nigeria would be through the efficient use of solar energy.

The Coordinator, Central Industrial Liaison and Placement Unit (CILPU), University of Lagos, Adeshola Kukoyi, in his contribution, described solar energy as an idea whose time has come adding, like all good ideas solar would need advocacy and mass education to succeed.

Kukoyi said stakeholders in the industry must come together and speak purposefully with one voice. He said the public must be taught that solar energy is safest, affordable and easy to use. According to him, government should implement the duty free tariff for solar panels and subsidise the installation of solar sites. He said companies that make solar the primary source of energy in their operations should be granted tax relief.

In his closing remarks, Nweke canvassed a single digit renewable energy fund to be assessed by individuals and corporate bodies that want to invest on solar infrastructure. He also stressed that energy conservation is an essential part of the solar philosophy. Every point of light not in use must be turned off. Nigerians must follow the steps of successful nations, adopt the extensive use of inverters and other energy saving devices, Nweke said, while revealing that solar panels are not just for big organisation because technology has made it possible that even the barber’s shop can now be run on a solar panel and small inverter.

 

[ThisDay]