Webinar: the Distributed Energy Resources (Advantage); turning energy deficits into renewable energy opportunities

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, CADEF hosted a groundbreaking webinar titled “The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Advantage: Turning Energy Deficits into Renewable Opportunities.” This event aimed to tackle Nigeria’s persistent power shortages while championing clean energy solutions. By focusing on Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), the webinar addressed key topics such as policy gaps, net metering feed-in tariffs, grid integration, and the industrial impact of renewable energy in Africa, showcasing their potential to revolutionise Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Event Highlights:

Opening Remarks: CADEF’s Executive Director, Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, emphasized the importance of empowering consumers with knowledge and fostering a collaborative approach to renewable energy adoption.

Participants: The session was attended by a good number of participants, including media companies such as Vanguard, Techecnonomy, the Sun, Wazobia FM, and some other renewable energy stakeholders creating a dynamic and interactive experience.

Key Speakers:

Mr. Ojediran Alaba Bolaji: A leading expert in energy systems and sustainable energy advocacy, Bolaji presented on “Going Beyond Grid Failure to Grid Integration with DERs.” He demonstrated practical tools, such as CADEF’s online energy calculator, and emphasized the benefits of integrating DERs into the national grid.

Dr. Mary Abosede Adedoyin: An electrical engineer and entrepreneur, Dr. Adedoyin discussed “The Role of Renewable Energy in the Next Phase of Africa’s Industrial Development.” She highlighted successful renewable energy models in Kenya, Morocco, and some other African countries, calling for greater investment and collaboration among stakeholders to facilitate Africa’s transition journey to renewable energy and industrial revolution.

Mr. Joseph Inyang, the CTO at Juststandout Limited, Inyang’s session on “Identifying Policy Gaps and Recommendations for Improvement: Net Metering and Feed-in Tariffs” addressed regulatory and infrastructure challenges and proposed actionable solutions to advance renewable energy adoption.

Key Takeaways:

Second-Life Technology: The influx of second-hand solar panels and EV batteries into Nigeria requires sustainable management. As Mr. Ojediran noted, “Technologies now exist to recycle and repurpose these devices, transforming waste into new opportunities.”

The executive director of the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation, Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, remarked, “An informed consumer is an empowered consumer in society.” She highlighted the need for all consumers to be equipped with the proper knowledge; hence, the Renew Energy Naija one-stop shop is designed to provide consumers with all the resources and information they require to make informed decisions accurately.

She also highlighted incentives such as removing VAT and tariffs on renewable energy products, providing grants, and fostering partnerships with educational institutions as critical steps for driving adoption.

Interactive Q&A session: The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which participants discussed policy reforms, DER integration, and the future of renewable energy in Nigeria.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for 2025, CADEF remains steadfast in its mission to empower consumers and advocate for sustainable development. Stay tuned for upcoming events, initiatives, and opportunities to join us in creating lasting change. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of impact and progress. Kindly visit the website at der.cadefng.org to explore the enormous resources meant just for you.