- Nigeria is targeting 30% renewable energy technology capacity by 2030.
- The commitment driven by necessity, contract and policy.
- The minister intends on signing 14 solar power purchase agreement (PPAs) with 14 developers with the potential to deliver over 1,000 MW of solar power.
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola announced last week that Nigeria is targeting 30% renewable energy technology capacity by 2030. The Minister made the announcement at the 2018 pre-conference workshop of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.
Fashola said that the current component of grid power consists mainly of gas-fired power (85%) and hydropower (15%), and there was the need to produce an energy mix that targets a 30 per cent component of renewable energy out of the gross energy produced by 2030.
“Let me be clear and unequivocal by saying upfront that our commitment as a nation and government to pursue renewable and low carbon energy at low cost is clear, firm and unshaking. But this is not all. It is a commitment driven by necessity, contract and policy,” he said.
The minister said that government had also matched its intent with actions such as signing 14 solar power purchase agreement (PPAs) with 14 developers with the potential to deliver over 1,000 MW of solar power. “In addition to the necessity to diversify our energy sources from gas and provide some energy security, we are also driven to pursue renewable energy by contract,” he said.
Fashola said that Nigeria as a committed member of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS, the country has adopted several international treaties and policies which promote the use of renewable energy. This is line with the national vision to provide incremental power, and then steady and uninterrupted power.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
