ENERGY COMMISSION OF NIGERIA
COMMUNIQUE OF THE NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON OFFSHORE
WIND INFORMATION SYSTEM, ORGANIZED BY ENERGY
COMMISSION OF NIGERIA IN COLLABORATION WITH
SARAFINA NIGERIA LTD , HELD AT PROTEA HOTELS ,
ASOKORO, ABUJA, 13TH DECEMBER, 2012.
Preamble:
A one-day National Workshop on Offshore Wind Information Systems
was organised by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in
collaboration with Sarafina Nigeria Ltd. The Workshop was held at
Protea Hotels, Asokoro, Abuja on the 13th December, 2012. Participants
were drawn from the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs), Wind Energy Technocrats, Other Energy Professionals,
Engineers, Environmentalists, State and Local Governments Offices,
Organized Private Sector, International Agencies, Academic
Institutions, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and The Media.
More than 60 participants attended the Workshop which featured four
technical papers.
The Opening Ceremony of the Workshop was chaired by the Director
General/CEO Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abubakar Sani
Sambo OON, NPOM ably represented by Prof. E. J. Bala, Director,
Renewable Energy, Energy Commission Nigeria. The Welcome address
was delivered by the coordinator, Mrs. Omoniyi Bridget Ayeni,
Managing Director, Sarafina Nig. Ltd., while Goodwill Messages were
delivered by Dr. S. O. Fadoju, Director, Chemical Technology and
Energy Research (CTER), Federal Ministry of Science and Technology;
the General Manager, Climate Services, NIMET, Mr J. E Alozie; and
Dr. P. E. Ugwuoke, Ag. Director, National Centre for Energy Research
and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
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Other dignitaries present at the occasion included Mr. Ayodele
Omowunmi, Director Research, Energy Commission of Nigeria; Engr.
(Rev) J. O. Ojosu, Director, Energy Planning and Analysis, Energy
Commission of Nigeria; Dr. J. Ali, Director, Solar Radiation, Energy
Commission of Nigeria and Mr A. O. Aliyu, Deputy Director, Energy
Information System Department, Energy Commission of Nigeria. The
vote of thanks was given by Mr. Olanrewaju Ayeni of Sarafina Nig. Ltd.
The Objectives of the Workshop were to:
 Examine the existing onshore wind information system;
 Sensitize the stakeholders especially in the energy sector, on the
need for the offshore component of the wind information system to
complement the existing on-shore map;
 Further promote the utilization of wind energy (renewable) option
in the National energy mix and increase its penetration in solving
power problem in Nigeria.
Observations:
The Workshop observed that:
• The provision of adequate, affordable, accessible and reliable
energy is essential for national development;
• The existing Wind Information System (WIS) package has
addressed only on-shore wind data, but not the off-shore (where
there may be a more promising wind regime);
• Offshore wind information is important for providing complete
information on Nigerian wind energy resource;
• Offshore wind information will enhance investment in wind
energy generation;
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• There is an existing proposal for an Offshore Wind Mapping
Project in the Energy Commission of Nigeria, which could not
take off for lack of funds;
• There is need for manpower development in Renewable Energy
technologies;
• There are incentives in the form of feed-in tariffs for Renewable
Energy generation, including wind energy. However, more
incentives are required to encourage investment in that sector;
• The National Energy Policy, National Energy Master plan and
Renewable Energy Master plan produced by Energy Commission
of Nigeria (which include the renewable energy area) have not
been passed into law.
Recommendations:
With regard to the observations made by the Workshop participants, the
following recommendations were made:
1. The Energy Commission of Nigeria should continue to create
awareness and training on the use of the existing on-shore Wind
Information System (WIS) and to advocate the utilization of wind
energy including hybrid of wind and other renewable energy
technologies at the states and local governments level;
2. More incentives for investments in wind energy technology and
other renewable technologies in the country should be put in place,
in addition to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) established by the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). These could include
tax holidays, removal of import duties on certain critical renewable
energy components etc;
3. Efforts should be made by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, in
collaboration with other relevant government agencies (as was the
case with the onshore wind mapping project) to produce a
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Nigerian Off-shore Wind Information System since there is an
existing proposal;
4. In view of the level of funding required, Energy Commission of
Nigeria should put the cost in its 2014 budget as a priority project,
noting that the project cannot be done in phases;
5. The Energy Commission of Nigeria should continue to promote
manpower development in wind energy technology and other
renewables;
6. The Energy Commission of Nigeria and other stakeholders should
intensify efforts to ensure that the National Energy Policy and
National Energy Master plan are passed into law. This will ensure
a holistic approach to address not only the problem of matching
energy supply with demand but will also address all other
problems of the energy sector, such as manpower development,
incentive requirements and other institutional arrangements.
Prof. A. S. Sambo, OON, NPOM,
Director General/ CEO,
Energy Commission of Nigeria.
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