Azuri Technologies is lighting path to Nigeria’s solar future – Nwanze
Azuri Technologies Ltd, frontrunners in commercial providers of PayGo solar home systems to rural off-grid households was an exhibition sponsor at the recently concluded Solar Future Nigeria, the first solar conference with an exclusive focus on the Nigerian market. VERA NWANZE, Azuri’s General Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, spoke to BusinessDay’s ISAAC ANYAOGU on the side line of the conference about the company’s efforts to deepen solar energy adoption in Nigeria.
What informs your participation in the SolarPlaza conference?
The 2-day conference brought together over 250 participants including companies, developers, investors and decision-makers focusing on the opportunities and challenges in the solar power market.
Azuri’s participation at The Solar Future Nigeria conference highlights the company’s growing presence in Nigeria following the launch of its Solar Power Programme in partnership with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, to provide power to 20,000 homes in rural Nigeria.
We want to showcase our efforts in combining solar and mobile phone technology as our Azuri PayGo solar home systems delivers lighting, phone charging and radio offering the off-grid customer a clean, renewable and affordable access to electricity. This innovative approach to serving those who have no access to electricity so we want to show the value that has seen sales of Azuri’s PayGo home systems topping 100,000 in sub Saharan Africa.
So what does this Solarfuture conference mean for the sector?
Nigeria’s burgeoning solar industry is enjoying increasing visibility as the country seeks to solve its electricity deficit going by the size of the conference.
Azuri joined many other industry stakeholders at the Solar Future Nigeria Conference which provided an opportunity to come together to deliberate on opportunities, issues and challenges facing the solar PV industry. Forums such as this can only strengthen the industry and promote growth.
In what area(s) has it met your expectations?
Information on size of investments, scope of work, commercial engagement, target consumer, route to market and financial rewards are some ways. The alternative solutions that renewable energy offers and the potential of improving quality of life of underserved millions of Nigerians, especially in rural areas have been discussed.
Being the first solar conference with a Nigeria-specific focus, we could better engage by using specific experiences and examples of companies operating within the Nigerian solar industry.
What more could be done to keep a sustained focus on issues in the solar industry?
Appropriate regulatory framework and government support including the provision of solar farms to drive affordability and faster penetration. There is need to educate and drive awareness of renewable energy in Nigeria, selling the long-term cost benefit to the consumer.
There is also need for improved road quality and network to drive accessibility to the rural areas and adapt relevant communication channels to appeal to the target consumer. We also need more collaboration for innovative financing options to sustain the solar industry and to ensure that the business environment is attractive to investors and entrepreneurs passionate about renewable energy.
What lessons have your company learnt in serving rural dwellers with affordable solar solutions?
We treasure the excitement in the faces of consumers on realising that solar alternative solutions exists and can make them more productive and improve their quality of lives. That is why we continue to see keen interest and improved awareness on Azuri’s solar home solutions. So there is need for more awareness.
Nigeria’s off-grid population is ready to adapt to a PayGo solar system as a way of enjoying electricity and for community development. We have learnt that there is need for ramp up nationwide rollout of solar home systems because it can empower rural communities by providing employment opportunities and allowing local entrepreneurs to grow profitable business within their community.