- The GEF has provided $2m for bioenergy mini-grid development.
- UNIDO is implementing the project which seeks to reduce the use of diesel-based energy systems.
Nigeria’s federal government plans to improve rural electrification via biomass powered mini-grids as an alternative to diesel-based energy systems have received a boost. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has already secured a $2 million funding facility from the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) to implement a project aimed at utilising biomass for energy generation. The project aims to increase the adoption of energy sources that do not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. UNIDO is working with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to perform assessments and develop pilot projects utilising bioenergy from the sugar industry and biofuels for clean cooking.
The UNIDO-GEF project had planned to illustrate the feasibility of biomass to energy via the development of a 5MW rice-husk powered electricity plant in Abakaliki within the Ikwo Rice Mill Cluster in Ebonyi State. Instead, four separate projects of about 3MW were executed using a special purpose vehicle (SPV), Abakaliki Power Plant Limited (APPL). This SPV is currently developing a rice husk gasification project capable of generating a cumulative 1.5MW in Ebonyi State comprising a 1MW plant in Ikwo and a 500kW plant in Uburu. The project, which comprises four components, aims to develop policy and a conducive market environment for bioenergy development. In addition, the project aims to strengthen financial facilities and build capacity to establish bioenergy powered mini-grids for rural electrification and productive use in the country.