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Innovation offers Africa a chance with Energy (3) comments
By Francis Onwumere | Friday, September 12 2008 | Energy
  
 Its 7pm in Ibadan, soul of the Dark Continent. Tiny specks of incandescent light spot the landscape as an orchestra of electric generators are in full swing. Nigerian citizens of the last few years have been referred to very descriptively as the generator generation and the situation is not getting any better. Reliable, adequate and affordable power supply has remained beyond the reach of Nigerians despite efforts by government to generate more power.
A developing economy necessarily consumes an increasing amount of energy as more industries spring up and homes demand more power for their usage and comfort. Population growth and urbanization rates are also higher in Sub-Saharan Africa than in any other region in the world. Thus any new energy input is easily and readily swallowed up by the teeming populace.
With the aim of rehabilitating the energy sector, the Nigerian government pumped 16 billion dollars into the sector in the last eight years and a recent report by a special presidential committee suggests that a further 85 billion dollars (54 billion Euros) will be needed for the country to enjoy a "stable power" supply.
Generating more energy is a good thing but the cost implications weigh heavily on developing countries especially since virtually all the personnel and technology has to be imported. However this doesn’t have to be the case. A relatively unexplored option is that of increasing the efficient use of energy by energy conservation techniques. This method is the least costly solution and offers the greatest short-term relief for developing countries.
It has been technically proven that cost-effective energy conservation and efficiency measures can save at least 10 to 30 percent of energy consumption and a study carried out by the World Bank has shown conclusively that energy use in African countries is extremely inefficient, thus offering a large prospect for energy conservation.
Just Alternative Power (JAP), an Energy start-up based in Lagos has drawn up energy conservation dynamics to explain the fact that energy conservation is of the essence. The analysis done by the company’s CTO, Afam Nnaji, is based on just 10 bulbs (common 60W type) and energy cost of NGN4.00 per kWh of electricity for a typical Nigerian home;
“This home with ten bulbs on for just 8 hours a day will consume the following:
Daily - 10 (60W bulbs) x 8 (hrs) = 4800W
Monthly - 10 (60W bulbs) x 8 (hrs) x 30 (days) = 144000W
Yearly - 10 (60W bulbs) x 8 (hrs) x 30 (days) x 12 (months) = 1,728,000W
If 1kW of electricity costs NGN 4.00 per hour then in one year this household would have spent NGN4.00 x 1728kW = NGN6,912.00
Now assuming this same household decides to replace the ten 60W bulbs with energy saving bulbs rated at 10W (they are bright, never mind the low wattage; they are based on energy saving technology).
Daily - 10 (10W bulbs) x 8 (hrs) = 800W
Monthly - 10 (10W bulbs) x 8 (hrs) x 30 (days) = 24000W
Yearly - 10 (10W bulbs) x 8 (hrs) x 30 (days) x 12 (months) = 288,000W
If 1KW of electricity costs NGN4.00 per hour then in one year this household would have spent NGN4.00 x 288KW = NGN1,152.00
You may say this is just a single household, so no big deal; but wait until we get more practical. Assuming we have just 40 million households connected to the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN) here is what really concerns the government as regards electricity generation.
For the typical home using the 60W bulbs PHCN will have to generate 1,728,000W x 40,000,000 = 69,120,000,000,000W. And Nigerians would have spent 69,120,000,000KW x NGN4.00 = NGN276,480,000,000.00 just to light ten bulbs for 8 hrs a day.
For the typical home using the 10W bulbs PHCN will have to generate 288,000W x 40,000,000 = 11,520,000,000,000W. And Nigerians would have spent 11,520,000,000KW x NGN4.00 = NGN46,080,000,000.00 just to light ten bulbs for 8 hrs a day.
Now, which makes better sense, to spend NGN276 Billion a year or to spend NGN46 Billion for the same amount of energy?”
Afam Nnaji continues: “The idea of reducing our energy needs is simple and yet workable and effective. The cost savings are there for all to see and feel. This is not rocket science, it is common sense but again I cannot assume that I know why the relevant agencies and powers that be are not looking at this very efficient alternative or strategy for now.”
The main obstacle that mitigates the vast potential that energy conservation has to offer is a lack of awareness among the populace but especially among the policymakers. An awareness of energy conservation benefits practice and technology will go a long way to save cost and rehabilitate the energy sector in Africa.
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(3) comments Click Here to Add Your Comment |
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very easy and simple
By Ikenna Anyanwu | on Friday, September 12 2008 | 11:35:29 AM
The issue of energy conservation is very easy and simple. This article has simplified it even further. But one thing remains the simple things in life are often viewed from a difficult perspective. Conservation of energy is something every individual and household can practice. The use of energy conserving light bulbs is one of several ways to save our spending on electricity; as simple as worked out in the article. Also, relevant authorities should research into these little but significant ways of saving power it will contribute in no little way to rightsizing our annual budget. |
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Who\'s listening!
By Tobenna | on Thursday, September 25 2008 | 02:22:11 PM
It\'s a pity that such seemingly unimportant discoveries are never considered by the \'powers that be\' and \'policy makers\'. Afterall not long ago we had a Nigerian who discovered the appropriate material for constructing roads in Nigeria; but what has happened since then. NOTHING!!
Nevertheless, there is hope. Let\'s continue making the necessary discoveries, especially those peculiar to our national situation, and hope that someone will listen, someday. |
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buy some bulbs
By nnaemeka nwachukwu | on Tuesday, October 7 2008 | 05:56:32 AM
i hope those that who commented have bought some energy saving bulbs, just as i have. pls spread the word. if we contribute this way, no matter how insignificant it seems, we\'ll make a difference. |
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