By Chioma Obinagwam
Using Renewable Energy systems and minigrids can provide a reliable and affordable solution to Africa’s energy poverty problem according to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON.
The immediate past Vice President who is also Global Advisor at Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, added that GEAPP and himself are committed to reducing the cost of deploying such solutions alongside providing clean, reliable and affordable power in the continent.
Osinbajo spoke today during a side event organised by GEAPP, the World Bank and Africa Minigrid Developers Association, AMDA tagged “Powering Prosperity in Africa by Scaling DREs and Minigrids” at the Africa Climate Summit taking place in Nairobi Kenya.
DREs are Distributed Renewables Energy systems are (stand-alone and off-grid systems as well as mini-grids) that generate and distribute energy independently of a centralised electricity grid.
Prof. Osinbajo who gave the opening remarks noted that the “objective is clear: we are here to discuss how to accelerate the deployment of sustainable minigrids in Africa to power our people’s lives and livelihoods, ultimately fostering prosperity on our continent.
“Globally, nearly 8 out of 10 people without electricity live in Africa. At the current rate of progress, 595 million Africans will remain unconnected in 2030. These numbers underscore the urgency of our mission.”
He went on to explain the advantages of adopting DREs and Minigrids, as a way of complementing traditional grids. His words: “Distributed Renewables Energy systems, DREs, and Minigrids offer a faster, more cost-effective solution.
“According to the World Bank, unleashing the potential of minigrids can improve the lives of approximately 500 million people, reduce carbon emissions by 1.2 gigatons, and create 2 million jobs globally. In Nigeria, where I’ve witnessed first-hand, minigrids have significantly improved livelihoods.”
