10 September 2012, Sweetcrude, Lagos, Nigeria – As part of measures by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and Global Environment Facility, GEF, to promote energy efficiency in Nigeria, Schneider Electric has been selected to implement a renewable energy project at the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN’s, Headquarters building in Abuja.
The project which is aimed at showcasing the Energy Commission of Nigeria’s building as a model for public lighting using renewable energy will include the replacement of all non compliant lighting fixtures in the building with Schneider Electric’s energy efficient LED lamps ‘In-Diya’.
It will also include the installation of Schneider Electric’s off grid energy solution ‘Villasol’, as well as an upgrade of the building’s electrical distribution network to include metering so that the energy consumption of the building can be measured henceforth.
Speaking at the event in Abuja recently, the Country President of Schneider Electric, Mr. Marcel Hochet described the project as a landmark development in the sensitization of the general public on the feasibility and benefits of energy efficient lamps. According to him, as the global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric is committed to bringing to the project, its enormous wealth of experience and know-how to ensure timely completion and delivery.
He said that Schneider Electric is strongly committed to helping people make the most of their energy. This involves making the energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and most of all, green. His words: ‘Our fully functional renewable energy project in Asore, Ogun state is a testimony to Schneider Electric’s involvement in renewables industry in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, the national coordinator of the UNDP-GEF programme, Mr. Etiosa Uyigue disclosed that the project’s target was to reduce the buildings’ consumption by up to 50% thereby creating an energy efficiency best practice for others to follow.
The DG of the Energy commission of Nigeria, Prof Sambo who gave a presentation during the event, highlighted that the key barriers to successful energy efficiency practice in Nigeria include a lack of relevant policy, cost versus market ratios, a lack of information as well as wrong human behaviour.
He further reiterated that projects that help save energy, eventually save the environment as well as the economy.
In May 2011, UNDP-Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Nigeria launched an energy efficiency project to promote appliances in the residential and public sector, which had earlier been boosted by a $3 million dollar grant in 2009.
The four-year’s project is being implemented by the UNDP, while the Federal Ministry of Environment and Energy Commission of Nigeria are among the executing partners of the project that is being funded by GEF.
Similar projects have recorded success stories in countries like Ghana, Cuba and Bangladesh.
