Stakeholders Explore Ways To Improve Energy Transition Strategy

Stakeholders in the country's energy industry gathered in Abuja on Tuesday to discuss ways to improve the energy transition strategy while employing green hydrogen to increase power supply.

It was organised by the German government, the African Network for Solar Energy and Renewable Energy, and the Energy Sufficiency Association (REEEA), with a workshop on the Nigerian perspective of a hydrogen partnership with Germany.

According to the NAN, hydrogen is environmentally beneficial when it is created using renewable energy sources.

This is because it can be stored for a long time and transported over great distances.

The German government is working with the Nigerian government, the public and private sectors, as well as academia, to create an enabling framework for hydrogen, according to Gina Lagunes, Head of the German-Nigeria Hydrogen Office.

According to Lagunes, one of the accomplishments of the German government was that a research on the policy regulatory framework for hydrogen in Nigeria, which would encompass energy development, was nearing completion.

“We are carrying out hydrogen potential for the country and we are working also on establishing a working group on development of national hydrogen strategy," she said.

Prof. Daniel Egbe, president of the African Network for Solar Energy, stated that Germany and Nigeria already have a relationship in the field of green hydrogen.

According to Egbe, the workshop was also organised to get Nigerians' thoughts as requested by the German parliament.

“The opinion of the man in street is very important that is why we have people from different sector gathered together to brainstorm on the perspective of green hydrogen.

“We have stakeholders from civil society group, industry players, government to voice their opinion on Nigeria and German green hydrogen partnership,’’ he said.

According to him, the goal of the workshop is to equally develop recommendations for actions for international green hydrogen partnership.

“It aims to promote understanding of the perspectives of these potential hydrogen exporting countries by discussing and exchanging with stakeholders through an online survey and stakeholders workshops.

“If we have to interact or corporate, it should be a win-win situation for everyone on the street of Nigeria to voice their opinion on any aspect that concerns them,’’ he said.

Green hydrogen, according to Prof. Magnus Onuoha, National Vice Chairman of the REEEA, is a cutting-edge technology that will be essential to Nigeria's energy transformation.

According to Onuoha, the goal of the workshop was to increase capacity and inform participants about the collaboration between Germany and Nigeria in order to encourage involvement.

He claims that Nigeria should capitalise on the significant and numerous job prospects in green hydrogen by creating the appropriate regulations and environmental conditions.

“When we are sure that the right policies are in place and an enabling environment to drive the policies by 2030, you will be amazed what the green hydrogen will be contributing into the Nigeria’s energy transition plan," he said.