‘How solar energy can help reduce Nigeria’s power challenge’

Solar energy provides reliable power supplies and fuel diversification, which enhance energy security and lower risk of fuel spills while reducing the need for imported fuels. It also helps conserve the nation’s natural resources, but how ready the various stakeholders including the government to embrace the technology to drive this determines how far the country goes, reports AMBROSE NNAJI

The Federal Government has been urged to embrace a newly launched solar solution–‘solarkiosk’ to bridge the gap of power generation and distribution.

Solar energy is a vast, inexhaustible, and clean resource. It can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and businesses, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of other commercial and industrial uses

The Solarkiosk, a German-engineered innovation by Stormberg Power, is said to be particularly useful in powering hospitals and other important facilities especially in the ongoing efforts to rebuild the North East.

Energy expert, Babatunde Morakinyo, said that embracing the new technology would help Nigeria attain target seven of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs 7 targets that: “By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology”.

According to him, the introduction of the Solarkiosk is borne out of the passion to improve the standards of living for Nigerians using sustainable energy solutions.

He said that the company was positioned to delivering power solutions that are devoid of pollution while bringing efficient power to Nigeria.

He added that the immediate focus of the company was to immediately power the provision of essential communal services to areas previously affected by insurgency without further degradation to an already fragile climate system.

“The kiosks are designed to serve several purposes ranging from scalable mobile clinics, mobile kitchen, community centres and mini-banking unit, among others,” he said.

“The solar-powered kiosks are not just a product but an innovation to contribute to help fast-track the rebuilding process of North-East Nigeria.

“In addition, this innovation provides an advantage by protecting our ozone layer from further depletion from pollution.

“It is my belief that this will go a long way in helping Nigeria realize the Goal 7 of the SDGs as we move closer to the year 2030 deadline,” he said.

Nation Update gathered that the company had provided renewable energy solutions to some critical government infrastructure including five Airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt, and Enugu through collaboration with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Morakinyo said that the kiosks were already set to be deployed to development agencies, corporate bodies and governments across all tiers and for any intervention in the North East.

He, therefore, the advised governments and development agencies at all levels to embrace the solution.