The Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), has reiterated that renewable energy provides ultimate alternatives to the perennial electricity challenge in Nigeria.
The foundation which recently launched its flagship Distributed Energy Resources (DER) platform ; a comprehensive one-stop hub designed to empower Nigerians with the tools and knowledge needed to embrace clean energy solutions.
The DER platform provides practical resources, including a solar energy calculator, policy guidelines, financing options, and a verified directory of installers and resellers, and aligns with Nigeria’s Vision 30:30:30, which aims to generate 30,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030, with 30 percent sourced from renewable energy.
CADEF is pursuing the agenda at a time Nigeria is striving for exponential industrial growth, but persistent grid failures and the relentless surge in fuel prices have become significant challenges.
These issues have raised serious concerns for individuals and businesses, hindering their ability to realize their potential and achieve sustainable growth fully.
For instance, Nigerians were on Wednesday plunged into darkness following another collapse of the national power grid.
Statistics show that from January 2024 till November, the grid has collapsed 11 times.
Within one week in October, the grid collapsed three times with its attendant blackouts, sparking reactions from Nigerians.
Speaking during a webinar tagged: “Distributed Energy Advantage: Turning Energy Deficit into Renewable Opportunity” organised by CADEF, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, the executive director of CADEF reemphasized that reliable electricity is a major concern for [electricity] consumers in the West African country.
According to her; “Just this year alone, we have experienced our 12th national grid failure. CADEF, a consumer rights organization, launched a new website, to educate Nigerians about DER, particularly solar energy. Many people are unfamiliar with the concept, which extends beyond familiar forms of renewable energy like bioenergy and hydropower.”
Ndukwe-Okafor explained that the DER website has highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerian businesses and households due to unreliable national grid.
“Over 70% of our businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often rely on expensive, polluting petrol generators,” she said.
DER offers a solution through solar microgrids, which can provide reliable and cost-effective energy to both rural and urban communities.
“An informed consumer is an empowered consumer. The website explores decentralization and reliable energy solutions using solar microgrids. DER allows for a scalable approach. You can invest in a system that fits your current needs and expand it as your requirements grow”, the prof emphasised.
CADEF advocates for government intervention to create a more favorable environment for DER adoption. This includes tax incentives, import duty waivers, and financing schemes. Additionally, they support net metering and feed-in tariffs that incentivize renewable energy use.
The organization also sees Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as crucial for successful microgrid projects in underserved areas.
CADEF is dedicated to providing educational resources, financing opportunities, and a network of trusted professionals to facilitate the switch to solar energy. They encourage service providers to register on their platform to ensure high-quality services.
She highlighted the importance of collaboration to drive policy change and mobilize stakeholders towards a more reliable and sustainable energy future for Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, Alaba Abolaji Ojediran, a systems analyst and IT trainer, presented a sobering picture of the country’s electricity infrastructure.
“Nigeria’s grid, established in 1962 for a population of 46 million, is now struggling to cope with a population of 234 million,” Ojediran explained. “Since 2017, the grid has collapsed nearly 46 times, highlighting its fragility.”
Comparing Nigeria’s grid performance to other countries with similar population sizes, Ojediran noted that Nigeria has experienced significantly more grid failures to Brazil, with a comparable population.
A key factor contributing to these disparities is Nigeria’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels. “Renewable energy constitutes only about 2% of Nigeria’s energy mix,” Ojediran said. “Countries with higher renewable energy adoption, like India, tend to have fewer grid failures.”
Ojediran proposed DER as a solution to Nigeria’s power woes. DER, which includes solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage, and demand response technologies, allows for energy generation and storage closer to the point of consumption, reducing reliance on the central grid.
“Each grid collapse costs Nigeria between 4% and 7% of its GDP,” Ojediran emphasized. “By investing in grid integration and promoting DER, Nigeria can unlock substantial economic benefits.”
To achieve grid integration, Ojediran outlined several key steps including: Infrastructure upgrades, promoting DER adoption, enhanced grid management among others.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of community engagement and policy reforms in driving the transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy future for Nigeria.
Dr. Mary Adedoyin, sub-dean, Faculty of Engineering and lecturer in the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering at University of Lagos, also highlighted the crucial role of renewable energy in driving Africa’s industrial growth.
She emphasized the need to transition from traditional, fossil-fuel-based energy sources to cleaner, renewable alternatives arguing that renewable energy, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution to Africa’s energy challenges.
Despite the initial investment costs, Adedoyin averred that the long-term benefits of renewable energy far outweigh the upfront expenses.
She also stressed the importance of addressing infrastructure challenges and promoting policies that incentivize renewable energy adoption.
“By embracing renewable energy, Africa can unlock its full industrial potential, create a more sustainable future, and improve the quality of life for millions of people”, she stated.
Mr. Joseph Inyang, expert in the renewable energy industry, emphasized the need for a paradigm shift away from fossil fuels. He stated, “If you give someone a fish every day, they won’t learn to fish. Similarly, relying solely on fossil fuels hinders sustainable growth.”
Inyang advocated for a decentralized energy system, incorporating storage solutions, energy efficiency measures, and recycling. He also stressed the potential of artificial intelligence in optimizing renewable energy systems.
A key focus of his presentation was on net metering and feed-in tariffs. Inyang explained, “Net metering allows individuals and businesses to generate excess renewable energy and sell it back to the grid. Feed-in tariffs provide fixed payments for renewable energy generated, incentivizing investment in the sector.”
In summary, speakers unanimously agreed that the state of electricity in Nigeria is no secret—demand far outstrips supply, and rural areas suffer the most and beyond adoption, stakeholders must prioritize education and training to open the minds of Nigerians to maintain and manufacture renewable energy systems.
Participants also learned how Distributed Energy Resources (DER) is reshaping the energy landscape—unlocking potential, addressing challenges, and powering real-world solutions.
