Power Sector And Other Related News Stories For Thursday February 9th 2023
Nigeria Must Liberalise Electricity Sector, Regulations Too Stiff
Prof. Eli Jidere Bala is the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. In this interview, he discussed with KINGSLEY JEREMIAH critical issues in the energy sector in Nigeria.
We have energy transition and renewable energy plans that require over $3 trillion to finance. Will you advise Nigeria to borrow to finance these plans?Economists support the idea of borrowing for the sake of investment instead of consumption. If we must borrow, we must borrow to invest in our renewable energy development for production of premium electricity from clean energy sources.
https://guardian.ng/energy/nigeria-must-liberalise-electricity-sector-regulations-too-stiff/
Renewable Energy key to Bridging Energy Gap Experts
Some experts have said that renewable energy is key to bridging the energy gap in the under-served and un-served communities.
They stated this at a panel discussion on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the ongoing AFRICANXT 2023 in Lagos. It has Bridging the Energy Gap in Un-served and Under-served Communities in Nigeria as its theme.
Founder of Dsuonenegry, Chukwuebuka Obimma, said that more than 70 million people living in rural areas do not have access to electricity supply.
He said that the current energy supply gap in Nigeria was, at least, 180,000 MW, according to the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors.
https://www.environewsnigeria.com/renewable-energy-key-to-bridging-energy-gap-experts/
Discos Remittances Drop by N70bn in Three Months Report
Remittance from electricity distribution companies to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company and Market Operator dropped by N70bn in the first quarter of 2022, according to newly released data by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The report showed that the combined invoices from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company and Market Operator to Discos were N412bn in 2022/Q1.
https://punchng.com/discos-remittances-drop-by-n70bn-in-three-months-report/
Why Cost of Solar Energy Technology is Declining PPC
The mass production of solar panels in response to the rising demand for alternative cleaner power solutions has made solar installation for homes and businesses more affordable, PPC Limited, one of Nigeria leading engineering and infrastructure Development Company, has said.
Dr Kelechi Onuigbo, the Head of Power Division at PPC, while commenting on the frequent collapse of the national power grid, the attendant blackouts and its disruption of business activities, advised businesses to look into cost-effective alternative power solutions for uninterrupted power supply.
https://independent.ng/why-cost-of-solar-energy-technology-is-declining-ppc/
Nigeria Suffering the World Largest Energy Deficit
The latest quarterly report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shows that average daily electricity production declined by 4,3 percent quarter-on-quarter (q/q) to 4,508 megawatts (MW) in the second quarter of 2022.
This is compared with 4,712 MW in the previous quarter.
“Considering the frequent grid disruptions last year, the drop does not come as a surprise, FBN Quest stated.
The market watcher stated the level of power generation is exceedingly low for a developing country like Nigeria, the West African nation with a population size of over 200 million people.
https://www.cajnewsafrica.com/2023/02/07/nigeria-suffering-the-worlds-largest-energy-deficit/
Electrical Accidents Killed 58 Persons, Injured 46 Others in 2022
Electrical accidents across the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) killed 58 persons, including electrical staff and non-staff, in 2022, with 46 others suffering major injuries.
This is according to the monthly safety ranking of DisCos and TCN in the power sector published by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
While the highest death occurred in April, with 15 fatalities, the highest major injuries of 11 persons were recorded in May, 2022.
https://dailytrust.com/electrical-accidents-killed-58-persons-injured-46-others-in-2022/
Nigeria: A4&T Power Solutions Limited and Ikeja Electric PLC Partners to Provide Solar Energy to Five Lagos Communities
About 12,500 residents in five communities at the Epe axis in Lagos State would benefit from a solar mini-energy project embarked upon by the Lagos State Government. The groundbreaking ceremony of the interconnected solar mini-grid was done recently.
The celebration at the event was understandable because when the 0.88MW (scalable to up to 2MW) interconnected solar mini-grid is completed, it will provide energy for the Epe, Eredo Local Government Area communities of the State.
The project is being developed by A4&T Power Solutions Limited in partnership with Ikeja Electric PLC. The project is a product of the Interconnected Minigrid Access Scheme (IMAS) program.
New landfill to Produce Electricity and Fertiliser in Rwanda
In the near future, the Rwandan city of Kigali will get a brand-new landfill. Construction on the site is scheduled to begin in June 2023, according to the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC). Although the landfill wont be on the same location as the one that has been in use since 2012, it will still be in the Nduba sector.
A portion of the 49,576 tonnes of rubbish that are gathered each day in the city of Kigali will be sorted and recycled at the future landfill, which will be constructed through a public-private partnership (PPP).At least 70% of the garbage produced in Kigali and kept at the current Nduba dump, according to Rwandan authorities, is organic garbage.
https://theelectricityhub.com/new-landfill-to-produce-electricity-and-fertiliser-in-rwanda/
Italy Adds 2.48 GW of Solar in 2022 to Break Through 25 GW
According to trade group Italia Solar analysis of data from grid operator Terna, Italy added 2.48 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2022, bringing the country total solar installation to slightly over 25 GW by the end of the year.
The impact of the Superbonus support program for house improvements may be seen in the fact that residential systems made up 1.1 GW of the 2022 additions. There were 678 MW of installations in the commercial and industrial sector and 571 MW in the utility-scale sector.
https://theelectricityhub.com/italy-adds-2-48-gw-of-solar-in-2022-to-break-through-25-gw/
ETHIOPIA Grants First Ever Commercial Mini-Grid Licence
To electrify its people, Ethiopia will rely more on solar energy, including solar mini grids. Humanitarian Energy (HumEn), a firm established in Ethiopia and owned by Mercy Corps and Rensys Engineering and Trading, has received the first commercial mini-grid license ever granted by the Ethiopian Petroleum and Energy Authority (PEA).
For the sake of refugees and host communities in Sheder, a town in Somali regional state, Humanitarian Energy plans to set up a mini grid powered by a 253 kWp solar photovoltaic plant.
Beyond the humanitarian side of this project, Ethiopian authorities’ decision to award a commercial license for the operation of a solar mini grid is a second clear indication that they intend to use this decentralized approach to electrify their rural people. Only 32% of Ethiopia rural population has access to power, according to Power Africa.
https://theelectricityhub.com/ethiopia-grants-first-ever-commercial-mini-grid-licence/
India Union Budget Supports Energy Storage Supply Chain
Dr Rahul Walawalkar, president of the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), speaking with Energy-Storage news a few days after India Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman presented the country Union Budget 2023-2024, said, “Overall, we are very happy with the direction of the budget. The budget included more than US$4 billion for capital investments into energy transition and net zero initiatives, Viability Gap Funding for 4,000MWh of battery storage projects and the promise of a future strategy on pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) among its highlights.
https://theelectricityhub.com/indias-union-budget-supports-energy-storage-supply-chain/
