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Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by Gbawe: 3:11pm On Nov 08, 2011
Impressive joint rural renewable energy electrification project between the Ogun State Government and Schneider Electric limited. Sounds like a very successful and transformational pilot scheme.


http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/power/29301-villasol-power-improving-rural-lives-through-renewable-energy

Villasol power: Improving rural lives through renewable energy
Thursday, 03 November 2011 00:00 OLUSOLA BELLO Energy, Editor





The desire of the Federal Government to meet the electricity needs of Nigerians, for domestic and industrial purposes, has led it to contemplate having a strong energy mix. The energy mix includes the harnessing of the gas resources, hydro electricity projects, coal, solar and wind energy.



These are veritable sources of electricity with varying degrees of cost implications. For instance, the hydro and gas resources are capital intensive, just as generating electricity from coal. These are very expensive because you will also require massive deployment of transmission and distribution networks.

Because the country is such an extensive area, analysts have said that areas where there might be difficulties in extending transmission lines in the immediate future could make do with solar energy. The rural areas which are remote but also desirous of good things of life, such as electricity, are best suited for the solar energy.

The government must endeavour therefore to at least make effort to improve the lives of Nigerian rural communities, through access to renewable energy. Impact of lack of access to energy in rural areas includes rural urban migration, poverty, and deforestation, among others.

In Nigeria, over 60 percent of rural communities are not connected to the national grid. It has been demonstrated by some companies that with a carefully marked out programme, the rural communities could even engage in some commercial   activities through the provision of renewable energy such as solar.

[b]The recent project jointly executed by both Ogun State government and Schneider Electric Nigeria at Asore community has proved that renewable energy  can impact positively on the rural dwellers. The people of the community have already organised themselves into groups and have put in place cassava mill, which processes the cassava products that are brought from the farms.

The Villasol power project built and donated by Schneider Electric Nigeria has brought relief to the people of Asore. The once sleepy village is gradually lighting up as economic activities have started building up. The power project holds the possibility to unlocking the economic and productive capacities of Asore. Before this latest initiative, Asore community had no access to any form of electricity.

The community school, the only one there, is now being powered in anticipation that computers would soon be supplied to it so that the pupils could also be literates in computer education. The distribution network is simple and buried underground, and does not require an elaborate wire that would criss-cross the length and breath of the community.

Guilaume Schoebel, Schneider’s vice president for Middle East and Africa, said the project was the first of its kind, not only in Nigeria but the entire sub-Sahara Africa, saying the project was the company’s pilot scheme to provide rural Nigeria communities with access to renewable energies.

By bringing electricity to the rural communities in the country, his company had once again affirmed its CRS commitment, built on innovative business models and renewable energies, he stated. Also speaking, Marcel Hochet, the country president of Schneider Electric Nigeria, said the company had a global strategy to always contribute, as much as possible, to the development of its host countries, in alignment with the countries’ policies and regulations, noting that “the reasons for this pilot project are quite clear. Over 600 million people in sub-Sahara Africa do not have access to electricity.”

Villasol is part of the firm’s innovative approach towards addressing the huge energy deficit of Nigerians and other people in less developed countries of the world.

He said “Schneider Electric is waging war on darkness with the power of the sun. Villasol brings with it, the hope and possibility that rural communities can now have access to electricity without depending on the national grid. The product will help drive improvement in the living conditions of people at the base of the pyramid who do not have access to electricity in Nigeria and the rest of the world.”

A standard Villasol application, the firm explained, could produce up to four kilowatt of power to support community services such as schools, health centres, water supply and collective lighting.[/b]
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by Revolutnz: 4:21pm On Nov 08, 2011
This is a very good project.A welcome development.Thanks Gbawe for the info
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by Pukkah: 4:35pm On Nov 08, 2011
I like that line: 'waging war on darkness, '. This is a nice concept.
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by Gbawe: 4:43pm On Nov 08, 2011
My brother, I was very impressed myself. Imagine what this can do for Nigeria's efforts of rural electrification and poverty alleviation!!

The Villasol power project built and donated by Schneider Electric Nigeria has brought relief to the people of Asore. The once sleepy village is gradually lighting up as economic activities have started building up. The power project holds the possibility to unlocking the economic and productive capacities of Asore. Before this latest initiative, Asore community had no access to any form of electricity.

This , because of its stand-alone ability and usage of free 'fuel' (sunlight) , would be a fantastic drive to pioneer as the original electrification solution for rural areas throughout Nigeria. Renewable energy plus independence from a grossly inadequate national grid. Win-win situation IMO.
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by hercules07: 4:46pm On Nov 08, 2011
This is a good initiative though not the first one in subsaharan africa, i recently installed 24 of such systems in Benue, Kogi and Kwara states for an NCC sponsored project, it is a good one sha.
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by Gbawe: 4:49pm On Nov 08, 2011
hercules07:

This is a good initiative though not the first one in subsaharan africa, i recently installed 24 of such systems in Benue, Kogi and Kwara states for an NCC sponsored project, it is a good one sha.

Well, the article says it is . Perhaps it is a case of a little self-promotion from Schneider.

Guilaume Schoebel, Schneider’s vice president for Middle East and Africa, said the project was the first of its kind, not only in Nigeria but the entire sub-Sahara Africa, saying the project was the company’s pilot scheme to provide rural Nigeria communities with access to renewable energies.
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by hercules07: 4:54pm On Nov 08, 2011
Gbawe na CSR project, they will big themselves up a little bit, infact in the same Ogun state, eight secondary schools were selected for the same NCC project, the only issue is the projects were not that well planned (that one na another story). I think these rural areas can use some of these technologies to make life a little bit better for themselves, especially in the area of economic activities.
Re: Sub-saharan First Of Its Kind Power Project In Ogun State. by Gbawe: 4:56pm On Nov 08, 2011
hercules07:

Gbawe na CSR project, they will big themselves up a little bit, infact in the same Ogun state, eight secondary schools were selected for the same NCC project, the only issue is the projects were not that well planned (that one na another story). I think these rural areas can use some of these technologies to make life a little bit better for themselves, especially in the area of economic activities.

Totally concur.

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