Expert Canvasses Full Utilisation Of Solar Energy Potentials

As Nigeria seeks

            enduring solution to her power challenges, an energy expert has advocated full utilisation of solar energy potentials to boost power production in the country.

Engineer Ozon John, Managing Director of Flourish Solar Energy Centre in Port Harcourt who made the call in an exclusive interview with The Tide Friday in Port Harcourt said the dream of providing adequate electricity supply through Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) cannot be achieved as government alone do not have the capacity to meet the power needs of the country.

The solar energy expert enjoined Nigeria to emulate other Asian nations, especially Japan where he said full potentials of solar are enhanced.

He explained that nations tapping energy from the sun had got to advanced stage where even their building designs cannot be approved by the government unless they have inbuilt space for solar component.

“Apart from tapping energy free from the sun, solar system is noiseless, no pollution, needs no fuel, clean and requires no huge expenses in maintenance compared to power from generators,” he said.

Engr John stated that the impression that solar power was exclusively for the elites was wrong as the cost of solar components was fast coming down as a result of recent researches.

“Before now, it cost between N2 million to N3 million to power adequately two bedroom flats but today, with N350,000, we can adequately provide you solar services for same apartment,” he said.

He urged the government to encourage private investors in solar energy by sponsoring youth training on solar through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), noting that his company has capacity to train youths on how to handle solar energy services.

He equally called on local government areas in the country and Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC) to take advantage of the training services provide by his company to train youths.

Apart from boosting energy supply, the training would also provide employment opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths across the nation.

The managing director commended the President Goodluck Jonathan administration for giving priority attention to the power sector, stressing that the dream of becoming one of the developing countries in 2020 would remain an unrealizable dream until power challenges facing the nation are addressed.

Chris Oluoh