Renewable energy to generate 2, 000mw in 2020

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission has stated that through regulation, Renewable Energy would generate 2, 000mw of electricity in the year 2020 According to a statement from NERC Public Relations Affairs, “the law, Feed-in Tariff Regulations for Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity in Nigeria”, was approved at the last regulatory meeting of the Commission. It envisaged that the country would generate at least 1,000 megawatts from renewable energy sources by 2018.

The office explained that Renewable sources are electricity generated from biomass, small hydro, wind and solar energy sources. According to the Public Relations Affairs, the chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi said, “With this regulation, we have been able to unlock further investment potentials in the country’s power sector.

Its major objective is to diversify our sources of electricity and take advantage of our options.” He said that the regulation expects electricity distribution companies to procure 50 per cent of the projected renewable sourced electricity, while the Nigerian Bulk electricity Trading Company (NBET) is expected to procure the balance of 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, the regulation specifies capacity for renewable plant should between 1mw and 30mw. Plant above this threshold will require additional conditions other than those already specified in the regulation.