By Favour Aliyu
The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing’s Mabushi Solar Project has won a global award at the just concluded Africa Energy Forum 2021 in London.
The advanced solar microgrid system has 1.52 megawatts peak (MWp) photovoltaic (PV) and 2.28 megawatts hour (MWh) energy storage and powers multiple office buildings for the ministry headed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
At the forum in the United Kingdom, the project executed by EM-ONE Energy Solutions won the African Solar Industry Association’s (AFSIA) award for Best Commercial and Industrial Solar Project of the Year.
The Africa Energy Forum is a platform for donors, government stakeholders, financiers and other industry experts actively working in the continent’s energy sector.
According to a report from the ministry, the Mabushi Solar Energy project was the minister’s vision of providing renewable energy in Nigeria’s public office through his commitment has not only helped in solving the ministry’s reliance on polluting diesel generators thereby reducing carbon emissions, but also in line with the UN Paris agreement on SDG Goal 7 on Sustainable Energy.
The award ceremony was attended by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Sustainable Infrastructure (Works), Engr. Olufemi Akinyelure.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of EM-ONE Energy Solutions, Mr. Mir Islam said, “This award is a testament of the vision of the Nigerian Federal Government and its commitment to investing in the energy transition and sustainable development”.
Akinyelure said the project was conceptualized when the ministry was merged with the power ministry. It was then designed and built by the energy firm but fully funded by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
The project included a complete electrical retrofit and upgrade – that has reduced energy consumption by 40 percent adding that the system uses Tesla’s energy storage solution, the Powerpack and its advanced microgrid controller, which, according to him is “saving the off-takers 76 percent on their annual energy expenditure.
Speaking on the impact, Akinyelure said the Mabushi Solar Energy has created over 500 direct and indirect jobs over the course of its’ implementation.
Describing Nigeria as an economic powerhouse on the African continent, he noted that the project formed part of the Federal Government’s ambitious commitment to have 10 percent of Nigeria’s total power derived from clean energy by 2025.
He also noted that with the project’s recognition, Fashola has shown doggedness and philosophy in the decentralization of electricity as a way to resolve Nigeria’s power problems.
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