Kunle Kalejaye 14 October 2015, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Six states in Nigeria, namely Gombe, Kaduna, Anambra, Delta, Osun and Niger, are to have low cost, off-grid solar energy solution system installed to provide 24kW of PV solar-based power.
The pilot project is being sponsored by Schneider Electric in partnership with Green Village Electric, GVE, Projects Limited, Arnergy Solar Limited and Bank of Industry Nigeria Limited, starting off with two states – Niger and Osun.
The system will supply electricity to about 200 clients (residential and commercial) in communities in the six states through a 2km 230VAC, 50Hz mini-grid electricity distribution network.
With an average household size of 7, the estimated direct impact of the whole project is about 7,000 people, while an additional 500 people will be impacted indirectly through the cottage businesses and street lighting components also attached to the project.
Schneider Electric, in statement, explained that sequel to few years of capacity building, the project has now entered into the implementation phase with a focus on the deployment of low-cost, off-grid solar energy solutions for rural communities either as a stand-alone or micro-grid system.
“The project explores partnerships that will promote the implementation of renewable energy solutions and provide linkages for enterprise development, especially for the unserved and the underserved rural communities in the country,” Country President, Schneider Electric, Anglophone West Africa, Mr. Walid Sheta, said.
Managing Director of GVE Projects Ltd, Mr. Ifeanyi Orajaka who spoke during the commissioning of one of the projects in Niger State, said: “The project will create about 20 direct and 30 indirect jobs during the course of implementation, while creating an estimated N5million in wealth in each of the beneficiary community through construction, survey, labour and other related implementation expenditures.”