Achieving sustainable, systemic change in the energy sector requires innovating on technologies. This section highlights what was achieved in the Access to Energy project in Q4 2020.
The coastline rural communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria have long suffered from the consequences of poor rural electrification. Many of these communities do not have access to regular supply of electricity to power basic economic assets and household needs, thereby reducing the economic activity in these communities. Expectations for an early connection to the National grid is near hopeless due to the high cost implications and the difficult terrains. Since 2018, PIND has been addressing this gap through alternative and affordable off-grid solutions –capable of targeting not only basic energy needs (i.e. lighting and cooking energy), but also productive uses of energy at both household and rural enterprise levels, which is our priority.
PIND’s Access to energy program had an outreach of 1,560 in Q4 2020. This includes 1,380 persons across 230 households and 130 rural business owners connecting to new mini-grids across four coastal communities. In addition to these, 50 persons received training on various technical, entrepreneurship and business support service roles in the same communities. The total number of people with access to clean energy with PIND assistance in 2020 is 3,395, from 461 households, and a total of 595businesses accessed clean energy in 2020.
Recent advancements in off-grid solutions present an excellent opportunity to accelerate progress towards the SDG 7 target on universal access to modern energy services. PIND’s delivery model innovations in the renewable energy mini-grid sector is improving long-term viability so as to attract investments, boost local demand for energy services and improve the sustainability of projects from a technical, economic, social and environmental standpoint. During the quarter, PIND leveraged 40million Naira investment (Figure 7) by the Ilaje RDC for two 20kW community Solar Mini Grids at Awoye and Odofado to support a total of 200 connections (including businesses and households) in both communities.
In Q4 2020, PIND deployed 2 Energy Cabins as part of the Chevron Corporation Grant supported solar mini-grids interventions in the GMOUcommunities. These grants supported the installation of a 20kW Solar Mini-Grids at Molutehin community in Ilaje LGA of Ondo state, and another 20kW Solar Mini-Grid at Gbokoda community in Warri North LGA of Delta state. These two mini-grids support a combined 150 connections including businesses and households across both communities. 100 connections in Molutehin and 50 connections in Gbokoda community. The solar mini-grid at Gbokoda supports all the existing businesses and households within the community and is expandable to 100 connections, with the forecast that both business and household demand will increase.
