- UK’s Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility to bridge the energy gap in Nigeria.
- The programme plans to commence implementation in four states.
A United Kingdom-funded solar programme, the Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility (ACE TAF), has revealed plans to bridge Nigeria’s huge energy deficit. In a report issued to THISDAY, the initiative, which is a four-year programme, identified barriers to scaling solutions available in the off-grid sector to achieve universal electrification for all Nigerians.
The initiative also aims to create an enabling environment for high-quality stand-alone solar products and facilitate private sector investment and growth in the nation’s energy sector.
The report noted that the Facility identified some of the achievements it recorded since its inception in 2018, including the development of off-grid solar policies and action plans in Lagos, Kaduna, Jigawa and Kano States as part of efforts to catalyse the transition and adoption of off-grid solar power in those States.
“The ACETAF programme also provided a fully equipped quality test laboratory for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to support its market surveillance as well as supported the development of an importation guide for Solar PV products and technologies to provide a clear understanding of the importation process for solar energy technologies and to increase transparency for solar companies. Both interventions were aimed at reducing the number of poor-quality products reaching the market and hence improving consumer confidence and stimulating growth,” the report read.