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The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, has backed the Energy Commission of Nigeria’s (ECN) renewable energy drive.
Muhammad gave the assurance during a familiarisation visit to the commission, following the installation of a 0.5-megawatt solar hybrid power system that has taken the ECN completely off the national grid.
He described the project as a model that could be replicated across government ministries, departments, agencies and communities.
“This is the way to go,” the Permanent Secretary said, commending the commission for harnessing Nigeria’s abundant sunlight to provide reliable electricity.
He said he was impressed with the performance of the ECN management and pledged to work closely with the commission to address its challenges and provide the needed support.
The ECN Director-General said the commission’s electricity requirement stood at about 350 kilowatts, while the new solar hybrid system has a capacity of 500 kilowatts.
He said the excess capacity could potentially support neighbouring facilities, adding that the project was designed as a pilot for replication across the country.
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“We are demonstrating capacity, we are demonstrating sustainability and we are showing Nigerians that it is possible,” he said.
The DG also disclosed that the ECN was partnering with LONGi to establish local solar panel production in Nigeria.
According to him, local manufacturing would reduce the cost of renewable energy technology and make solar solutions more affordable for Nigerians.
He added that the commission was collaborating with state governments to build capacity and attract financing for renewable energy projects.
The ECN is also working with Energy China on the deployment of 5MW mini-grid projects across states.
The initiatives, he said, are in line with the Federal Government’s target of raising electricity generation capacity to 30,000MW by 2030, with renewable sources expected to account for 30 per cent.
