Schneider Electric on Monday introduced its new range of microgrid solutions to address the energy deficit and energy sustainability in Africa, starting with Nigeria.
This was made known in a one-day workshop themed “Transforming Africa’s Energy Future’ for developers; contractors,; consultants and Schneider Electric’s distributors and partners, Power utility players including the power Distribution Companies (DisCos).
Mr Babajide Ogunlesi, the Product Application Engineer, Schneider Electric said that it was in line with the Federal Government’s pursuit of a 2060 Net Zero energy transition goal.
He said that Schneider Electric believes its re-engineered microgrid system would strengthen the pursuit of a decarbonised environment and a sustainable energy future in the country and across Africa.
According to Ogunlesi, the solutions also include new attributes to maximise solar penetration into systems and provide industry-leading peak efficiency, which would benefit a wide range of industries such as health, banking or real estate.
“With its engineered digitisation feature, Schneider Electric’s microgrid range is known to provide better efficiency on energy use.
“The products showcased include the new range of string inverters, which feature an enhanced user interface that communicates via a mobile technology platform for remote monitoring and control,’’ he said.
Mr Mojola Ola, the Director Business Development and Access to Energy at Schneider Electric talked about the importance of digitisation, decarbonisation and decentralisation as a platform to successfully develop microgrids.
Ola said that these days businesses and households are smarter in their decisions as they proactively manage their energy resources for greater efficiency and cost optimisation.
According to him, this is made possible by Internet of Things (IOT) enabled microgrids in a sustainable, environment-friendly way.
He said that due to the numerous challenges with power supply in Nigeria, decentralised microgrids have become a necessity to avail users the opportunity to function outside the national power grid and improve access to energy for all.
Ola recalled that the Federal Government had in November 2021, signed the Climate Change Act into law as a sign of solidarity with global leaders.
He said that it is in furtherance to cut the nation’s carbon emission to net-zero by 2060.