The Energy Commission of Nigeria says it is partnering with global solar giant LONGi to set up local manufacturing in the country.
The Director-General of the ECN, Dr. Musa Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a familiarisation visit to his office by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad
He explained that the development would help reduce the cost of renewable energy technology and make solar solutions more affordable for Nigerians.
According to him, the ECN was collaborating with state governments to build their capacity and scale renewable energy generation as electricity generation and distribution become increasingly decentralised.
He said the Commission has sealed deals with states to support capacity development and attract financing for renewable energy projects.
The ECN, he added, was also working with Energy China to deploy five-megawatt mini-grid projects across states.
He disclosed that the initiatives align with the Federal Government’s ambition to expand Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity to 30,000 megawatts by 2030, with 30 per cent expected to come from renewable energy sources.
He also said the commission had, since his appointment in October 2023, undertaken several initiatives aimed at demonstrating Nigeria’s capacity to deploy sustainable energy solutions.
He said the highlight of the projects was the installation of the 0.5MW solar hybrid system, which has completely taken the commission off the national grid.
He added that the Commission now generates its electricity from solar energy, reducing dependence on the national grid and demonstrating the viability of sustainable energy solutions.
He hinted that the Commission has an electricity load requirement of about 350 kilowatts, while the newly installed 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 that could be replicated across the country.
‘We are demonstrating capacity, we are demonstrating sustainability and we are showing Nigerians that it is possible,’ he stated.
The Permanent Secretary said he was impressed by the performance of the ECN management and the projects delivered by the Commission.
‘I am impressed by the performance of the DG and what I have seen in terms of projects that have been delivered by the commission,’ he said, pledging to work closely with the Director-General to ensure that the ECN received the support required from the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary particularly commended the commission’s renewable energy project, describing it as a model that could be replicated across government agencies, ministries and communities.
‘This is the way to go,’ he said, adding, ‘Nigeria is blessed in so many ways. One of our blessings is actually the abundant sunlight.’