Solar water heaters will save electricity – NESP

NESP, at a one-day workshop tagged, ‘Validation Workshop of the Solar Water Heater Feasibility and Design Study Report of Government Science School, Kuru in Jos’, said in comparison to electric water heating as base case, the investment payback period for solar water heaters is about five years with a carbon dioxide emission reduction of 95 tonnes per year.
Speaking at the event in Jos, Energy Efficiency Advisor at NESP, Ene Macharm said the result of a pilot study showed that about 68 units of 300 litre capacity solar water heaters will provide the hot water needs of 1,100 students in Government Science School Kuru, Jos.   
Macharm said the result of the pilot project at GSS Kuru will be used to develop standards and incentive mechanisms for widespread roll-out of solar water heaters.
She emphasised that once completed, the solar water heater project will demonstrate the economic and technical viability of solar water heaters in Nigerian boarding schools.
The Energy Efficiency advisor said the pilot study will cost about N10 million to provide 34 fetching points, adding that the project will require stable water supply and effective electricity to work.
The permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Water Resources and Energy and that of Education, Hannatu Dantong and Ruth Biangten respectively said the workability of the project will give the state government strength in replicating it in other schools.
Biangten on her part further urged the Nigerian-German cooperation agency – Deutcsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusanmenarbeit (GIZ) – which is sponsoring the project to extend its lifespan taking into consideration the transition into a new government and the strike action embarked upon by the state government workers.