… flags off 2.5MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant in Nigeria Defence Academy
In furtherance of the commitment of the Nigerian Government to provide sustainable and clean power supply to all Federal Government tertiary institutions including Universities and 7 University Teaching Hospitals across the country, the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria(REAN) has flagged off the Energizing Education Program(EEP), Phase II, with the ground-breaking ceremony of a 2.5MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant.President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Major Gen. Magashi (rtd), Minister of Defence, flagged off Phase2 of the Energizing Education Programme, at Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna on Thursday.
EnergyDay gathered that the Energizing Education Programme launched in 2016, with an aim to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable power to thirty-seven (37) Federal Universities and seven (7) Teaching Hospitals within Nigeria.Phase 2 of the EEP is a follow-up on the level of success achieved during the implementation of Phase I of the project.
EEP Phase II is expected to provide solar power to seven (7) Federal Universities and two (2) University Teaching Hospitals, across all 6 geopolitical zones.Engr. Ahmed Salihijo, the CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency noted that the EEP phase 2 is running through the impact of the Phase1 of the EEP, which is funded by the federal government as well as the WorldBank’s commitment funding the Phase2 of the EEP that will see 7 Universities and 2 University Teaching Hospitals benefits.
He noted that beyond the power plant, the EEP will also provide street lights, rehabilitation of the distribution network and a renewable energy workshop/training centre (WTC) at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) as well as all other beneficiary institutions.
The EEP is one out of the several deliberate programmes of the federal government being implemented by the rural electrification agency with quality supervision and guidance by the Federal Ministry of Power.
The project includes the provision of an independent power plant, upgrading existing distribution infrastructure, street lighting to improve security within the universities’ campuses, as well as the development of a world-class training centre on renewable energy for each university.
The project is being implemented by the REA and developed in Phases.
Phase 1 was fully funded by the FGN, within this phase, there are seven solar hybrid projects currently benefiting from funding from the Green Bond issued by the FGN.
While subsequent phases are to be funded by the Nigeria Electrification Project which is an FGN project in partnership with the World Bank and African Development Bank.Phase 1 delivered 28.5MW to 9 Federal Universities and 1 University Teaching Hospital, using solar hybrid and/or gas-fired captive power plants.
Over 127,000 students and 28,000 staff of Universities, 4,700 staff in Teaching Hospitals (including 819 doctors), power 2,850 streetlights, have benefitted from EEP on the backdrop of the decommissioning of hundreds of generators.
EnergyDay further gathered that the Government had, through the support of the World Bank, earmarked $105 million for the implementation of the programme.
