Renewable energy master plan implementation create path for power sector growth

Successful implementation of the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) will result in the installation of an estimate of 2,945 Megawatt in 2025 industry watchers say.

The megawatts would come from Bio-power, 400 MegaWatt; Hydro-power (small scale); 600 MegaWatt; Solar PV, 500 MW; Wind Power 40 MW; solar thermal 480 MW CSP 5 MegaWatt.

Analysts and industry watchers insist that Nigeria need to be able to leverage on the revenue she generate from fossil fuel development to invest in more sustainable forms of energy. This to them is the best to achieve her aspiration of supporting global communities to combat climate change.

Victor Eromosele, an energy expert observes that sustainable energy is the way to the future. He disclosed that Renewable energy accounts for 2 percent of world energy mix but when it comes to the issue generation today according to statistics in 2015 renewable account for 6.7 percent.

Eromosele observe that Nigeria hold the lowest solar capacities in Africa questioning the basis for the country’s claim of being the giant of Africa, when manager of the economy can’t fund investment that will help the country tap the huge potential that solar energy presents us. “We are very good at setting targets in Nigeria, but how good are we in achieving them”, he query.

“Nigeria government promised that the country is going provide between 13 and 14 gigawatts of solar, we don’t even have gigawatts of solar today. You have a grid that has only 5 gigawatts so where are you going to put the 14 from solar” he said.

Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.

The energy expert pointed out that Planet, people and profit are all what the major oil companies are after. That is not enough we have to do more. Climate change is a potentially irrevocable change. This simple means that if we do nothing, we are going to be in big trouble.

According to him, “The amount of electricity from the sun can power whole a country for a year so how could we have ignored that “.Solar technology is 85 percent cheaper that it was 5 years ago”

Analysts in pointing the way further towards using the funds gained from Fossil fuel to invest in sustainable energy suggested that there is the need to have some kind of credible system that allow manager of the economy and all stakeholders to check off progress and report such in a way that makes it possible for the government and the various stakeholders to appreciate those gaps where they exist and the steps that needs to be taken to close these gaps.

They advocated that part of the sustainable energy solution is not only going away from fossil fuel, but also using fossil fuel more efficiently. This can also mitigate some of the impact that we now see in the environment. It is not only about zero fossil fuel usage but Nigeria is sitting on 184trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Gas produce less green house emission, it is cheaper, cleaner.

KELECHI EWUZIE