The Green Circle: Recent Episodes
The Electricity Hub
In this episode, Ayomide Agbola, Country Manager, WestaSolar, discusses the bottlenecks and achievements recorded by developers in the C&I space.
In this episode, Ambrose Katungi, Africa Regional Director, We Care Solar, highlights how the firm is solving the challenge of poor energy delivery through its solar suitcases.
In this episode, Onyinye Anene-Nzelu, Head, Mini-Grids, ENGIE Energy Access, discusses ENGIE's first mini-grid installation, challenges, lessons learnt and future targets in the space.
In this episode, Olasimbo Sojirin, Country Director, Solar Sister Nigeria, highlights how renewable energy solutions increase the economic productivity of women-led businesses in rural communities.
Did you know that about 68.3% of Nigerian households still use solid biomass for cooking?
In this episode, Matthew Paul, Co-Founder/ CTO of Gasmonkey, discusses how his company aims to improve access to clean cooking solutions in Nigeria.
In this episode, Chibueze Ekeh, CEO, CEESOLAR, shares his experience winning the USADF/All On Off-Grid Energy Challenge and highlights how the funding will accelerate his company’s expansion plans.
In this episode, Veronica Jakarasi, Head, Climate Finance, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, discusses the climate financing opportunities available for South and Eastern Africa.
In this episode, Oluwatobi Adebisi, Energy Finance Expert, Renewables Academy (RENAC), discusses how Africa can build up on COP26 and increase financing for climate action projects.
In this episode, Oghosa Erhahon, Energy Analyst, Nextier Power, discuss the role young people can play in Nigeria's renewable energy transition and the opportunities clean energy can provide for the country's teeming youth population.
In this episode, Mir Islam, CEO, EM-ONE Energy Solutions, discusses the benefits of solar energy for public facilities and highlights the components of the Mabushi Solar Microgrid, which will reduce the Ministry of Work's grid electricity use by 70%.
In this episode, Bankole Cardoso, Managing Director, Engie Energy Access, discusses Engie’s recent projects in the country and highlights the company’s recent plans to deploy 300 mini-grids across the country.
In this episode, Chibueze Ekeh, CEO, CEESOLAR, highlights career paths in the off-grid renewable energy sector for professionals in other parts of the value chain and discuss how an influx of capacity will boost clean energy access across the continent.
In this episode, Uche Oge, Project Lead, Hardware Garage, discusses the Garage's recent call for innovative ideas in the E-mobility, food sustainability/agriculture and clean energy/tech sectors. He highlights the details of this call, benefits for budding entrepreneurs and the motivation behind this business accelerator.
In this episode, Chioma Agogo, General Manager for West & Central Africa Partnerships, Greenlight Planet, discusses the role telecommunications play in enhancing off-grid energy access in the continent, the challenges consumers face and how to accelerate the deployment of these solutions across the continent.
In this episode, Olu Aruike, Country Director, Husk Power Systems, discusses the potentials of off-grid energy systems for agro and agro-allied industries in Nigeria.
In this episode, Suleiman Babamanu, Project lead, Solar Naija Project discusses the current status of the project which aims to achieve 5 million new solar-based connections in unconnected communities.
In this episode, Otteh Edubio discusses Okra Solar’s Mesh Grid technology, their recent project in Onono, Anambra and their plans for the Nigerian off-grid space.
In this episode, Samuel Orji, Head Digital Energy, Huawei Technologies, discusses the benefits and potentials of Huawei's next-gen Mini-Grid “iPowerCube-S” clean energy solution in Nigeria.
In this episode, Olaedo Osoka, CEO West Africa, Daystar Power highlights the energy challenges businesses face and discuss how Distributed Energy Resources (DER) can improve productivity and lower energy costs.
In this episode of The Green Circle Podcast, Jim Howlett, Renewable Energy Expert discuss the stalled grid-connected solar IPP projects in Nigeria and proffer ideas on how we can integrate solar IPPs into the grid.
In this episode, Chibunna Ogbonna, Co-founder/CEO, Renewcykle Energy, discusses his company's plans and prospects for youth in Nigeria's renewable energy sector.
In this episode, Felix Omokaro, Project Analyst and Training Coordinator at GreCo Academy, discusses the details of the Academy’s 90-day Solar PV Installation Course.
In this episode, Uchechukwu Ogechukwu, Head of Business, Greenage Technologies; an indigenous smart solar inverter manufacturer and previous winner of the USADF/All On Off-Grid Energy Challenge discusses his experience with the application process and the impact winning the challenge has had on Greenage Technologies' business.
In this episode, Anita Otubu, Head, Programme Management Unit - Nigeria Electrification Project at the Rural Electrification Agency highlights the present state of the Nigeria Electrification Project; the challenges being faced and areas for collaboration with other stakeholders.
In this episode, Engr. Moyeen Abiodun, Renewable Energy Expert & Former Country Director, PowerGen Renewable Energy compares mini-grid markets across the continent and discusses mechanisms necessary to accelerate sustainable mini-grid deployment.
In recent years off-grid sources have grown from being a source of back-up power generation into low-cost solutions for electrifying rural remote communities and regions. Despite this recent growth, more still needs to be done to reduce the energy deficit in the country. Huge investments are needed in human capital development to empower the workforce with adequate tools necessary.
In this episode, Bolade Soremekun, Founder, Rubitec Solar discusses the challenges and needs of a solar training academy in the sector as well as the current state of the Rubitec Academy.
For many off-grid consumers, the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in a situation where many consumers cannot afford energy and are consequently faced with supply challenges. As a result, off-grid energy providers across the continent are employing payment models that ensure vulnerable consumers have access to energy supply.
In this episode, Jim Howlett, COO, PAS Solar discusses the measures his company is taking to enable consumers to afford energy during the pandemic.
Renewable energy has been identified as a solution to Nigeria's widening electricity deficit. But despite recent gains in renewable energy deployment, access to finance remains a barrier to accelerating growth in the sector. Sterling bank is hoping to change this narrative through its approach to renewable energy development. Presently, the bank has invested over $1 million and is looking to invest another $5 million over the next two years to power industrial activities through renewable sources.
Dele Faseemo, the Head of Energy, Sterling Bank discusses the bank's activities in the renewable energy sector as well as their approach to solving the long-term financing challenge.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the popularity and adoption of solar power. While solar is increasingly replacing generators for some, many still are not yet sold on the technology. This apathy stems mostly from previous experiences with solar. Consumers are often incapable of adequately assessing their capacity requirements and even after obtaining the required system are still oblivious of operations and maintenance procedures post-installation.
In this episode, Julian Bassey, MD, Crimson Power discusses som mistakes consumers make when getting solar systems as well as best practices before obtaining and during the operation of these solutions.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the popularity and adoption of renewable energy. This push has been bolstered by the fall in the price of these storage options. Over the past decade, prices for lithium-ion batteries fell by over 80 per cent.
In this episode, Justin Tinsey, CEO, Solarquick discusses the current status of the battery market, the future of battery technology and the outlook for the market over the next couple of years.
The Nigerian renewable energy space has witnessed some growth in the past couple of years even though this growth has been limited to solar off-grid solutions. Despite this progress, the sector is still saddled with challenges that threaten to slow down the spate of progress.
In this episode, Segun Adaju, the President of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) discusses consolidating Renewable Energy Growth in Nigeria.
Renewable Energy in Nigeria is receiving a tremendous spotlight with a focus on Solar and Hydro sources, particularly because of their infinite supply. However, industrial, agricultural, and household waste are looming to be another issue for Nigerians.
In this episode, Mr. Alex Bulnes, an Anaerobic Digestion & Biomethanation Consultant analyses Nigeria’s readiness for biomass energy.
Decentralised solutions such as mini-grids and solar home systems (SHS) have been hailed as the solution to remote energy needs. While the electrifying potentials of these solutions are quite visible, one area that has been largely overlooked is the aggregate potential of these distributed solutions.
In this episode, Emeka Chukwureh, the Director of International Strategy at the Electricity Exchange in Ireland discusses the potentials of virtual power plants on the continent.
Access to electricity is necessary to ensure a certain standard of life and economic productivity. In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 600 million people are without access to electricity. Decentralised off-grid solutions are increasingly being seen as a major solution to Africa’s energy challenges.
In this episode, Tobias Hobbach, Managing Director of Sustain Solar discusses the potentials of modular solar solutions.