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Nigeria

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News

April 2005

• Financial support required to further Research & Development of Renewable Energy in Nigeria.
  Recently CRADLE, a renewable energy research and development NGO undertook a study of renewable energy resources at an off-grid resort: Obudu Ranch Plateau in SE Nigeria (see two reports by Richard Ingwe at www.onesky.ca/energeticsolutions). The study revealed that potentials exist for the installation of renewable energy technologies to support the supply of clean energy for the native population who rely on raw wood or animal dung and also promote commercial and industrial development. However, the study needs to be extended in order to inform on the full renewable energy potentials of the region. Although small hydropower exists for installing a one megawatt turbine/generator in the region, the analysis of small hydro was restricted by resource constraints to only four stream confluences on one stream called Afundu. The plateau's promising small hydro potentials derives from the several stream tributaries flowing over changing altitudes and high gradients that are yet to be comprehensively surveyed over the different seasons (dry and wet or rainy). Also while over 10,000 cattle graze the various ranges, there is a need to further analyse the competition for the dung by horticulturists as well as develop a model for dung collection and also design a suitable biogas plant. There is a need to further investigate the possibility of growing energy crops for biodiesel or identify existing ones at the temperate-kind climate and also assess the willingness of the people to grow energy crops and develop house-based biogas plants. While the temperate climate will guarantee good performance of PVs, the measurements were not sufficient for determining the installation of PVs and solar thermal systems.
  The Centre for Research and Action on the Development of Locales, regions and the Environment (CRADLE) is willing to continue the R&D already started up to the point of installation or implementation of a hybrid or technologies for harnessing the hydro, biomass, and solar potentials of the Obudu plateau. Research funds are required to realise the RETs implementation. By Richard Ingwe contact www.onesky.ca/energeticsolutions
• NEWS FROM ECODEV
  Eco Conscious Developments has currently moved to the second phase of her drive towards the implementation of renewable energy in Nigeria. The program which started with environmental advocacy has now entered the technical training phase. In November 2004, we joined ranks with other environmental NGOs under the auspices of onesky to develop a plan of action for renewable energy development in Nigeria. This culminated in the formation of a renewable energy network, of which ECODEV is in the steering committee.
  We are glad to the German government for accepting our program Director, for the wind energy training, which is ongoing in Germany we are equally working on the design of a bio-energy plant. Nigerian government has currently made a commitment to generate 8 % of her energy need from renewable energy and we support this goal and are working to contribute the best we can. Research shows that Nigeria has sufficient magnitude of wind solar and biomass, that can lead her out of the fossil fuel trap, she seems to be in, and we will not leave any stone unturned, to make that a reality. By Tony Okpokam contact www.ecodev.freeservers.com

Organizations

• Network for Peace and Development (NEPED)
  Goal of the Organization The mission of Network for Peace and Development (NEPED) is to be a key player in building values for Good Governance, Democracy and Conflict Resolution. NEPED strives to develop potentials in communities, by harnessing the abundant Human and Natural resources available, striking a co-creative partnership with the people (particularly youth and women).
  Broadly, NEPED’s goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice and advance human achievement.
  Address: 9, Bayo Shodipo St. Off Afisman Drive, Anifowoshe, Ikeja. G.P.O. 9333 Ikeja, Lagos State.
  contact: Mr Dennis Etim Inyang-Mbekwe

Links

• ECODEV seeks to propagate sustainable use of natural resources, build a sustainable culture based on practical ecologically responsible resource use and implementing ecosystem - based conservation projects that provides for ecologically conscious community development. www.ecodev.freeservers.com

Repowering-New Chances

Article by Dennis Etim Inyang-Mbekwe (NEPED) contact.

My visit to Gada a border town in Sokoto State Nigeria, with Niger Republic, was quite revealing and serves to educate me on the challenges of implementing wind energy project. A windmill that uses to pump water said to be about 30 years old hanged delicately and dilapidated, people now fetch water manually. They seem to be no local capacity to handle repair of the windmill and the only known function of a windmill to them is pumping water-a legacy of colonialism. Gada is a local Government headquarters that got connected to the national grid through Ilella just 5 month ago, it is rural but other villages in the local government still live without electricity. Poverty pervades despite the high potentials as manifested by abundant agro raw material and mineral resources.

Like Gada wind energy potentials abounds in most northern state in Nigeria and offshore in the south. The know-how and capacity to tap wind energy for power generation is not known to exist in Nigeria. The erratic supply national grid leaves 55 % of the population without any access to electricity. Only 20 % of those having access live in rural areas. 50 % of energy consumption in the country is fuel wood this affects the health of women and children. It increases the level of deforestation, which leads to soil erosion in the South of the country and desertification in the north. In result the agricultural output decreases and poverty increases. Furthermore it contributes to global climate change. With depleting stock of fossil fuel globally estimated to be exhausted in 40 years, the consequences of this for Nigerians given the over dependence on oil will become greater as the terminal date approaches. Since 1980s the country has suffered recurrent strikes and conflict arising from fossil fuel price fixing, the real palliative measure lies in massive adoption of renewable energy and energy efficient technology that harnesses energy from the sun, wind, water, biomass and biogas, heat from the earth and Ocean waves tides or thermal energy stored in oceans.

Repowering offers opportunity to jump-start Independent Power Project IPP in the Northern state in Nigeria using second hand wind turbines, especially when combined with solar energy to make up for the period of low wind speed. The policy environment favours IPP, as some state in the south are already using the abundant natural gas from petroleum exploration for power generation within the context of IPP arrangement.
Creating awareness for renewable energy potential is a vital step to promoting wind energy, which calls for the following line of action to be taken against perceived barrier (aptly articulated in the YES manual on renewable energy) namely:

• Lack of Information: Rural communities frequently have limited access to existing knowledge bases that promote the use of renewable energy through economically and financially sustainable models. They lack knowledge of the market potential for renewable energy, the potential for providing renewable energy services to customers, successful replicable projects, potential financial partners, and means for establishing renewable energy systems.
• Lack of technical or commercial skills: even if they have the above-mentioned knowledge base, rural communities, and their youth frequently lack the skills and experience to produce and promote renewable energy. This includes financial management of the business, creation of business plans to market renewable energy, analyzing and dissemination of information, and technical know-how to maintain and service the equipment.
• Inaccessibility of technology: Rural communities often do not have access to renewable energy technologies and thus may not understand these technologies or the technical assistance to support its promotion and adoption. In off-grid areas, there is a natural market for services that may be tapped into by young people marketing and maintaining renewable energy systems, in coordination with larger efforts to provide renewable energy systems to those areas.
• Lack of institutional capacity for promoting renewable energy: throughout the developing world there is a lack of institutions serving youth that have expertise in renewable energy technologies and business development. Institutions that exist have an overwhelming task to do in which they need a great amount of support. There is therefore a need to find ways of integrating development initiatives, where possible, with capacity building exercises.
• Risk involved with high costs: some forms of renewable energy are very expensive to produce and local institutions cannot afford to adopt these without adequate financial support from other organizations. Businesses are not always ready to invest in renewable energy technologies because of the lack of a guarantee that it will become commercially viable or profitable.

Nevertheless, to overcome the barrier to renewable energy, which invariably can promote the right energy-mix to serve the needs of communities including the use of wind turbine-which will be more appreciated in terms of cost compared to other available resources, the following steps can be taken:

• Awareness-Building Workshops, Seminars and Symposium: This should be held to sensitize youths, policy makers/political office holders, institution of learning and private sector. Such forum will be preceded by advocacy and courtesy calls to relevant agencies, professional bodies and political leaders. Resources person will be drawn from international and local experts.
• Institutional capacity building: Capacity building /training for staff/members, volunteers of Civil Society Organization as a way of developing expertise in renewable energy technologies and business development.
• Training
  • Training on developing business plan for renewable energy projects.
  • Training in Nigeria's specific market relevant skills for renewable energy project
• Community demonstration Centers CDC for renewable energy: this will serve the purpose of demonstrating the possibility and viability of wind energy project and at the same time serve as a training center for diffusion of market relevant skills on the project. CDC will operate as a business venture that seeks to demonstrate the links renewable energy and energy efficient technology with business. CDC will offer training and mentoring.
• Development and dissemination of IEC: Information, Education and Communication IEC materials on renewable energy and energy efficient technology will be develop via a participatory process that draws from the culture and tradition of community and circulated via community channel.
• Renewable energy competition/ award.
  • Essay competition on renewable energy
  • Renewable energy business design completion
  • Award for renewable energy activist.
• Facilitate Implementation of CDM Project: With the signing of the Kyoto Protocol by Nigeria, opportunity abound for implementation of Clean Development Mechanism project that ties in with the development needs of the host community and the national development plan.
• Advocacy and policy watch in favor of renewable energy.
• Carbon Marketing and Networking: Facilitate/broadcast opportunities for attending international conferences on carbon market. To obtain information on carbon investor: and connecting communities involved with the global economy.

Repowering will penetrate Nigerians market easily using the carbon funds mechanism to create example of workable IPP project, building the capacity of CSO and the private sector to play a role. Such project should consider an integrated approach that taping solar energy to turn the blade to make up for period of low wind speed.

Further reference: Second-hand wind turbines

Wind data

Projects

Companies