The Federal Government intends to invest in renewable energy to supplement power generation from conventional means to help meet the energy needs of Nigerians. According to the Minister for Power, Mohammed Wakil, in the next decade, more than 30,000MW of electricity will be generated from renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass.
The government is confident of attaining a 10% renewable energy generation by 2020. So far, progress is at an advanced stage on the US$36.9m, 10MW Katsina wind farm.
The ministry says it is ready to tap into the expertise developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in the design and production of renewable energy components. While visiting two of the project locations of NASENI in Karshi, Abuja, and Gada-Mada in Nasarawa State the Minister of Power noted that the agency has grown its expertise in the development of renewable energy sources like solar and small hydro.
The minister said the government has concluded work on the National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency which aims to harness and provide a focal point for all national efforts on renewable energy. According to the minister, Nigeria has great wind energy potential and once a draft renewable energy policy which has been finalised is finally approved it will provide an integrated framework for all stakeholders especially investors in clean energy power generation to invest in the sector.
Nigeria aims to surpass Morocco which is the leading wind power producer in Africa.
