ECONOMIC INSIGHT
The federal government has inspected over 200 solar-powered homes across two communities in Kaduna state, and the 1.2 megawatts (mw) solar plant at Lower Usuma Water Treatment Plant in Bwari Abuja.
The Director of Human Resources (Power Sector) at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Chubado Dada during the inspection tour across the FCT and Kaduna state said the essence was to appreciate the works executed by the federal government.
He said: “The essence is also to make comparison between the solar-powered plant and the gas-powered plant to understand how they work. We have seen the first solar plant that is connected to the grid at the Lower Usuma Dam and we have seen the level of work at the Kaduna plant.”
The Assistant Chief Electrical Engineer of the Renewable and Rural Power Access department of the ministry, Engr. Temitope Dina who conducted other officials round the three solar sites said the solar plant worth 980 Japanese Yen (about N3.3 billion) at the water treatment plant was built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and commissioned in 2016 and 2017.
The energy facility has reduced the electricity bill of the water plant by N31.5 million annually as it feeds its excesses during the day time to the national grid through the facility of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
At Gnami village, the 150 kilowatt hour (kwh) solar farm constructed by Huawei has provided uninterrupted electricity for over 100 households at 350 watt (w) daily for each home in the last three years, the Project Manager, Audu Amego said.
At Pakau community still in Kaduna state, the Chief Business Officer of Emerald Global Resources, contractor for the project, Mr Bello Yusuf said the innovative 90 kilowatt (kw) photovoltaic (PV) solarplant serves 100 homes, seven commercial outlets and 35 streetlights.
Yusuf said the Renewable Energy Micro Utility (REMU) is monitored from the ministry in Abuja to guard against vandalism. He said the battery system which has a 17 year lifespan has been providing 24 hour supply since for over two years.
The Project Manager at the 215MW Kaduna thermal plant, Engr. Ogboma Austine said installation of the eight turbines was ongoing. Ogboma said it was at 70 per cent completion level and that a transmission switch yard designed to provide constant electricity for industries in the state was ready.