Nigeria’s premier alternative energy event - NAEE 2011
This week Africa Business Communities meet with Chris Edeh, Business Development Director for Africa and Middle East, Mathesis Consulting, Organizers of the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo 2011. The event organizers promises an impressive line-up of local and international speakers, delegates and exhibitors, who will gather to debate a new energy future for Africa's biggest nation.
How is Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo 2011 coming and what is the essence of the conference?
"The Nigerian Alternative Energy Expo 2011(NAEE) is the first alternative energy event in Nigeria. Our objective is to promote renewable energy technologies in Africa to help further their advancement and implementing renewable energy into everyday use. NAEE 2011 is in direct response to the Call by the President of Nigeria for energy reform to improve the energy situation in the country. NAEE 2011 will take place annually in the Federal Capital Territory at the Yaradua Convention Centre; this year’s conference theme is reforming the Nigerian Power sector with Alternative Solutions. Mathesis Consulting London is the organiser of the NAEE. The event will feature an impressive line-up of local and international speakers, delegates and exhibitors, who will gather to debate a new energy future for Africa’s biggest nation. Mathesis Consulting organizes events in wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, ocean/tidal/wave, bio-power, bio-fuels and hydrogen energy, building efficient technologies and efficient pellet fuel technology. The Renewable energy in Nigeria is already gaining momentum, infrastructural development and the inflow of investment into the country in renewable energy and it is close to $10billion. In December 2010, the Spanish group invested 1.5billion Euros into the Abuja green city project, the UK has invested $5billion in the Abuja green project. Synergent is bringing 50MW into Kaduna and the Nigerian government has been corporating into making this successful. Companies from China will be displaying products and services at the NAEE exhibition that can assist in the reduction of energy usage. Africa needs to make energy efficiency a reality throughout the continent, as the investment required for the development of the energy sector is significant and as such is a challenge for many parts of Africa."
The world is meeting its energy needs. The big catch is whether the world's energy needs can be met?
"Availability and reliability of electricity supplies have always been on the increase considering the rapid economic development transformation from low- to middle-income economy, a country like Nigeria with an estimated population of 130 million people is the most populous country in Africa and belongs to the group of countries with the lowest electricity consumption per capita in the continent for a country to achieve the status of an industrializing nation the electric-power generation will have to rise from the current capacity of 6500 MW to over 160 GW in the coming years. So I think the energy demand is very high."
What are some of Africa' energy requirements?
"Africa, the fastest urbanising continent in the world, must provide energy to meet the annual urban growth rate, which is twice as high as Asia and Latin America. new approaches are required to rethink the design and financing of generation capacity on the continent so that energy becomes a real catalyst for growth? Should Africa adopt an approach of becoming more energy efficient, this will reduce the investment required to power rural communities as well as keeping the lights on in other developed regions."
What does this expo seek to achieve?
"The 1st Nigerian Alternative Energy Expo will be the forum and business networking opportunity for the leading role-players planning and developing Nigeria’s energy solutions. NAEE 2011 will be the platform for debating Africa’s energy solutions and focuses on: power suppliers; alternative and renewable energies; the legal and regulatory framework, and investment opportunities in the Nigerian energy projects. The exhibition has become a significant market-place for Nigeria and international stakeholders doing business and for new entrants in the Nigerian market. The Energy Indaba Conference will discuss, debate and seek solutions to enable adequate energy generation across the continent. The NAEE will discuss, debate and seek solutions to enable adequate energy generation in Nigeria. NAEE will create opportunity for: Networking for over 300 senior level energy sector experts and decision-makers, planning and developing the 21st century energy Requirements for Nigeria; Hearing from more than 20 expert speakers presenting the latest and best industry practice; Visiting over 1000 leading energy suppliers showcasing the latest technologies, equipment and services and Reviewing policy and regulation, industry progress, and changing market trends."
What is the theme?
"This year’s conference theme is Reforming the Nigerian Power sector with Alternative Solutions."
Who are the main speakers?
"Mrs Bahijjahtu Abubakar - National Coordinator of Nigeria Renewable Energy programme
See link for more; http://www.nigeriaalternativeenergyexpo.org/speakers.html"
There are limits to how much our population can grow, how much can we use our non-renewable sources?
"There are no limits to the use of renewables , for instance in developing countries, many poor people suffer from a lack of access to modern energy. The International Energy Agency estimates 1.4 billion people, the majority is in Africa’s rural areas, will still lack access to electricity in 2030 unless new approaches and policies are adopted. Successfully tackling electrification means adapting programs to local contexts and national environments. Bridging this power gap is an urgent issue that countries across the continent need to address. Africa possesses the potential to produce significant conventional and alternative energy. However, chronically low rates of electrification remain Africa’s major bottleneck for growth and development, with less than 50% of the population having access to energy in most of sub-Saharan Africa."
What will be the focus of the keynote address?
"The Keynote speaker will focus on promoting energy efficiency in Nigeria, by increasing public awareness programmes showcasing energy efficiency technologies, exploring innovative financing mechanisms for funding renewable energy projects and to enhance the message whereby Nigeria should try and entrench the principle of energy efficiency in their day-to-day activities so that energy efficiency consciousness becomes a way life.
How has the Nigeria Alternative Energy event over the years impacted on the economy?
"This is the premier event and its already madding impact among the stakeholders."
Are we still supposed to rely on our non – renewable resources for energy production?
"Renewable energy is the only option for Africa. Africa needs to look for home-grown solutions to the challenges of energy poverty, rather than relying on conventional models that respond to conditions in developed countries. Millions of Africans are trapped in situations of energy poverty, with only about 5% of rural Africans having access to some form of commercial energy. But while large-scale energy infrastructure development is often regarded as the ideal model, connecting millions of rural and urban poor consumers to the main electricity grids that Africa’s major cities and industries is unrealistic in the short to medium term."
Is there any benefit to Africa?
"It’s a challenge to change mind-sets in Africa, so that communities accept small-scale solutions and so that manufacturers and finance institutions see the value in providing them. “Bigger has always been better in the field of energy provision, so this will involve a paradigm shift towards downsizing the technology and funding, instead of upscaling them.” This presents engineers and financial institutions with a unique creative challenge – to find energy solutions that are appropriate to remote rural applications, requiring downscaled technology, restructured financing and public-private partnerships to provide for subsidisation of the infrastructure component, while the users pay for services, usage and maintenance. “Wind and solar power options, perhaps with some LPG or micro-hydro back-up, could provide elegant solutions for rural applications. Power for telecommunication and television will immediately help with distance education and commercial communication, as well as basic health services.”
Your quote for this conference will be?
“There is a potential through renewable energy to literally give millions of people the ‘power’ to change their lives, and could ensure opportunities for social, economic and environmental sustainability on an unprecedented scale,” .
What is the latest news about the conference?
"We have had tremendous support from the relevant Governments, which are willing to create enabling policy and regulatory environments, and expect to roll out the Renewable Energy project to several locations in the Country. The new administration is keen on delivering power to Nigeria. Climate change will see agricultural production in Africa halve over the next few years as the continent falls victim to major environmental disruption. This will be aggravated by the estimation that the majority of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) will come from developing countries, including that of Africa, according to the ‘Energizing Development in a Changing Climate’ magazine by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The publication also estimates that the rising energy demand will come from developing countries where this will increase to 40% by 2030. As a result, GHG will increase from the existing 39% to 52% by 2030. Now is the time for Africa to rely on renewable energy, Please visit NAEE 2011 to get insights from the experts."
NAEE 2011 takes place at the Yaradua Convention Centre, Abuja Nigeria from July 6- 8 2011.
E: info@nigeriaalternativeenergyexpo.org
Douglas Duncan
Telephone: +44 203 239 6611
EMail:media@nigeriaalternativeenergyexpo.org
This article was originally posted on Nigeria Business Communities
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