On Tuesday, April 21, 2015, history will
be made as the Solar and Off-Grid Renewables West Africa opens for a
remarkable regional renewable energy summit in Accra, Ghana. The two-day
conference and exhibition is a major international, top-level
conference and networking event, which is the first of its kind in West
Africa, and quite timely at this time the world is waiting for
developing countries to submit their own emissions reductions
commitments ahead of COP 21 in France. Naturally, at the core of carbon
reduction is adoption of renewable energy in a green economy paradigm.
What is more, with Nigeria having come
out from a successful presidential election, there are fresh hopes for
the industry in the sub-region; because of course our country is a force
to be reckoned with. It is worthy of note that this West African
regional conference would have taken place in Nigeria but the organisers
factored in prevailing security uncertainties and political tension,
which informed their subsequent choice of neighbouring Ghana.
Organised by PV Tech’s publisher, Solar
Media, the conference is dedicated to exploring the opportunities and
challenges related to the deployment of renewable energy in West Africa.
Essentially, it aims to support and accelerate the deployment of solar
and off-grid renewable energy in Africa, and break down the barriers to
development – financial, political, technological – by bringing together
key stakeholders, including investors, policy makers, developers,
energy companies, financiers, NGOs, manufacturers and suppliers.
Attendees will meet government ministers
responsible for future energy planning; hear case studies about how they
can develop a solar project in the region; find out how they can set up
a local manufacturing facility; hear directly about what kind of
projects will get backed from development banks, commercial banks,
export credit agencies, venture capitalists and insurance companies;
learn what kind of equipment will be needed in the region and how can it
impact a project’s bankability; hear about ongoing initiatives to drive
forward solar development in West Africa; learn how utility-scale solar
projects gain access to the grid; find out about new projects of many
different sizes; and network with a powerful selection of Government
Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors and other senior
representatives meeting to do business.
But the most important aspect is that in
this West African edition, the organisers have apportioned a number of
free guest passes for energy end users who wish to attend. And I think
our vast population of energy consumers cannot afford to miss out on
this opportunity.
This West African edition follows on from
the sell-out success of the first event held in Kenya last year which
hosted more than 200 international attendees. During the East African
edition, local entrepreneurs, solar installers and researchers were
connected to key international players who injected enduring traction to
these Africans’ renewable energy efforts. Therefore, it would be good
to witness this elixir administered in our own backyard here in West
Africa.
There are several urgent reasons why an
off-grid renewable energy market interface is what we need now, and
outstanding among them is the yawning energy supply void. In fact the
scenario can be better understood in what I call the ‘African Energy
Paradox’. The AEP says it is ironical that with our abundant God-given
solar power, two-thirds of Africa’s population are not grid-connected
and without electricity. According to data from NASA, Africa has one of
the highest solar irradiation levels in the world, up to 200KW square
metre per year. Another source states that solar power in Africa has the
potential to provide all of the world’s energy, by using only a small
portion of the Sahara Desert. Many African countries receive on average
325 days per year of bright sunlight. This gives solar power the
potential to bring energy to virtually any location in Africa without
the need for expensive large scale grid level infrastructural
developments.
Off-grid refers to not being connected to
a grid, mainly used in terms of not being connected to the main or
national electrical grid. In electricity, off-grid can be stand-alone
systems or mini-grids typically to provide a smaller community with
electricity. Off-grid electrification is an approach to access
electricity used in countries and areas with little access to
electricity. So, off-grid renewable energy supply is the use of
renewable sources like solar and wind to power these units. Actually,
these systems can be more cost-effective than connecting to the grid in
remote locations. This is where Africa comes in, with her rural-urban
area imbalance.
In Nigeria, we seem to now realise that
reliance on only petroleum for both our energy and fiscal needs is
suddenly losing its appeal and sustainability. In recent times, efforts
have been concentrated on birthing a vibrant agricultural sector that
will ensure food security, and a new energy mix that will take the
pressure off the harried oil and gas. The former has received universal
ovation while the latter at best seem to be a venture of squeezing out
water from stone. Yet, these two are interconnected, because the farmers
need to power to plant and to preserve their yields. Therefore, with
success stories coming from other African countries in the area of
deploying renewables for national growth, it is high time Nigeria took
its proper place. If not anything, at least we are the giant of West
Africa.
After our just-concluded presidential
election, a study quickly surfaced, whereby Nigeria was projected as
“set to become Africa’s only global superpower”. But the truth is
without power, and a solid presence in the emerging alternative energy
industry there is a limit to our superpower aspirations.
There are a couple of reasons why
Nigerian public and private sectors should make it a point of duty to
participate in the Solar and Off-Grid Renewables West Africa. For
starters, ours is a country where more than 70 million power generators
are in existence in most businesses and homes; and so we need off-grid
renewable power supply more than ever before, to augment the meagre
supply from government grid while fighting climate change by reducing
carbon emissions that naturally emanate from the fossil fuel burning
generators.
Additionally, the Ghana event will
provide the opportunity to discover the opportunities for solar and
renewable manufacturing investment in West Africa and hear about
successful off-grid projects from around the world. For our private
sector participants, they will learn about major project opportunities
in the African solar and off-grid renewable energy markets; while our
public sector delegates will meet key national and regional government
officials plus economic and technical experts. Then other Nigerian
innovators, activists and media experts, in addition to increasing their
capacity, will compare notes with policy makers, investors, developers,
manufactures and NGOs.
The Federal Government had announced
plans to tackle inadequate power in the country with renewable energy
generation to the tune of more than 2000 megawatts at first phase; and
the establishment of a national science park akin to America’s Silicon
Valley to develop home-grown technologies including solar panels. With
this jumbo-size vision, we need more interface with regional and
international solar and renewable energy markets.
According to
http://westafrica.solarenergyevents.com, more than 35 international
speakers are scheduled to grace the Solar and Off-Grid Renewables West
Africa. And, surely, with renowned personalities like Ernesto Macias of
the Alliance for Rural Electrification; Benjamin Hill, President Europe
and Africa, Trina Solar; and Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, Chairman of the
Nigerian Member Committee of the World Energy Council, the conference
promises to be a catalyst platform for resounding regional impact.
Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
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