Experts in renewable energy have lauded the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan. They identified finance, the knowledge gap, and the enabling business environments as setbacks that must be overcome.
They stated this in Ibadan on Friday at the Techfine Partners Training, which Nexgen Energy organised in collaboration with Techfine Limited.
Over 80 Techfine channel partners across Nigeria received free training on system sizing, troubleshooting, PV systems, product knowledge, and minigrid, among other topics.
In his address, David Arinze, a programme Officer of Off Grid Energy, Diamond Development Initiative, commended Nexgen for exceeding expectations in their capacity to inspire and impact future generations of professionals within the sector.
He lauded the Buhari administration on the Nigeria Energy Transition plan and its commitment to climate change actions.
According to him, the plan is absolute. Still, the question now is how we track and finance it, bearing in mind that we are just recovering from the pandemic and the present global economic challenges.
“Nigeria has taken the relevant steps to ensure we have a road map to guide our activities going forward.”
Arinze, a renewable energy professional, noted that the government, private sector, clean energy companies, and Nigerians all have roles to play in ensuring Nigeria achieves its energy transition in 2060.
As an organisation, it has continued to create relevant opportunities for people to learn about the trends through training and relevant guidance on navigating the country’s ever-evolving clean energy space.
Arinze noted that capacity building cannot be overemphasised in the sector, as people can only add to what they know. With much knowledge and understanding, they can better make informed decisions and create better solutions.
“The flagship training which is focused on a mini-grid design and other aspects would ensure that those who go through the training can better improve their capacity and capability to be better energy practitioners,” Arinze said.
One of the facilitators, Mr Olawale Tinuoye, an engineer and Consultant, Renergy Integrated Systems and Projects Ltd said Nigeria has been doing so well in renewable energy but still has quite a long way to go.
According to him, there is a huge knowledge gap for developers because understanding the details of renewable and sustainable energy in Nigeria is key; hence, more knowledge is needed.
We are confident that this training will enhance the understanding of system sizing for over 60 to 80 dealers.
“We need the government to ensure the policies are implemented. Many programmes have been put in place, but we need to do much more.
We need to act on more funding for renewable energy developers and policies that promote an enabling environment, such as carbon credits, incentives on shipment importation, and duties on solar systems, among others,” Tinuoye said.
Daniel Afolayan, a renewable energy engineer who received free training, said it would improve his knowledge and provide opportunities for networking and collaboration with others in the industry.
“They have been able to get us acquainted with the new technology and educate us (the engineers) on many of the perceptions we make when designing,” Afolayan said.
Another beneficiary, Benedict Oguntimehin of B-Tech Energy, said, “This kind of training would only help dealers like myself to stay updated and better informed about the renewable energy industry.
“On a larger scale, it will only help to grow the industry well.”
Also, Dacostal Oladele, a renewable energy engineer and installer said the training separates quacks from experts in the field, as it equipped Techfine partners with hands-on experience in renewable energy.
It helps us better understand the products, the quality of service we can render to our customers, and what we can do to solve their issues,” Oladele said.
Mr Inioluwa Adekunle, a Sales Executive of Nexgen, said the free training was an effort to add value to the renewable energy industry, help reduce unemployment, and address the country’s energy crisis.
He said training was a way to invest in the community and improve the quality of services in the renewable energy industry.
It would build the capacity of Techfine channel partners to grow their business and navigate the extreme array of complications experienced in doing business post-COVID-19.
“And also Techfine channel partners would have the opportunity to leverage the innovation which the Techfine brand represents to meet the energy needs of our teeming population,” he said.
Adekunle noted that it would help address climate change concerns regarding recycling and deploying environmentally friendly certified products.
