Nigeria’s aspiration to diversify her sources of electricity generation may materialise next year, as the country’s first solar electricity generation company plans to commence operations before the end of the first quarter.
This indication emerged at the weekend as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), issued fresh licenses to three new electricity generation companies in Abuja, just as the Federal Government has released the sum of N28.2 billion as subsidy under the multi-year tariff order (MYTO).
Total licensees issued
The new licensees include Wedotebary Nigeria Limited, for the generation of 5 mega watts (MW) of electricity in Bukuru, Plateau State; Coronation Power & Gas Limited, for the operation of the 20MW capacity independent power plant (IPP) for Sona Group at Sango Otta, Ogun State, and DIL Power Limited, for the 135MW plant at Obajana, Lokoja in Kogi State.
About 46MW of the electricity by DIL would be supplied to Obajana Cement Company, while the balance would be injected into the national grid.
Already, a total of 29 licenses, including 20 for grid-connection, two each for embedded and distribution as well as five for off-grid generation, have been issued by commission since its inception.
Imalmudeen Talba, the commission’s sole administrator, said 22 of the licensees are on-grid power generation companies, out of which five are already operational, with additional four set to be commissioned, while six of the eight off-grid generators are in operation, with two expected to start-up soon.
Harnessing renewable energy
With the take off of the first solar power, Mr. Talba said the country is ready to harness the huge potentials for renewable energy sources, including solar, biomass and bio-fuel to help boost the nation’s clean energy and diversify her energy mix.
To guarantee effective operational environment, the commission’s boss said his agency is currently working on appropriate feed-in tariffs and other regulatory incentives to prospective investors, to promote renewable energy generation in the country.
Besides, he said NERC is also establishing a legal and regulatory framework for embedded electricity generation as well as Independent Electricity Distribution Networks to encourage the establishment of off-grid generation/distribution plants in the country to improve access to electricity in the country.
Benefits of solar plant
Yohanna Dalyop, chairman of Wedotebary Limited, told NEXT that his company, which is already supplying solar power to Nigeria Electricity Supply Company in Jos, Plateau State, has achieved about 85 percent completion stage in the construction of its Kyaratt Solar Plant.
“Our target is to commence electricity supply from the plant before the first quarter of next year. Though construction work commenced two years ago, we are even envisaging that we might fast-track the start-up target to ending of December this year,” he said.
He said the plant, whose components comprise Soloba booster machine, Lorong data logger, Fwogos circuit control system, Lodyot kyaratt modem and 400KVA Sogoh Solar inverters as well as 400KVA Giriig transformer, is 100 percent Nigerian, with the capacity to utilise fewer solar modules and power packs to generate electricity.
According to him, the plant’s technology has been designed to supply electricity on any of the three main power distribution lines – 415/11KV, 415.3.3KV and 415/8KV, pointing out that this would ensure that potential customer do not require installation of new distribution facilities outside the existing power distribution network in the country.
Already, Mr. Dalyop said the company has completed the compilation and implementation of a comprehensive meteorological data for each of the geo-political zones and major cities and towns in the country, adding that modalities for the training of local engineers and technicians on solar applications, configuration and systems integration for prospective power purchasers is currently being worked out.
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