Engineers seek integration of renewable energy sources into national grid

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), has called for deliberate efforts to integrate renewable energy sources into the national grid, stressing that improved energy storage innovations in Nigeria must be prioritised.

Calling for the formulation of policies governing energy usage and sustainability, the stakeholders noted that proper implementation by experienced professionals with the requisite technical expertise.

The association made the recommendations at the end of its 2024 international conference, exhibition and yearly general meeting on the theme: “Engineering Innovations and Energy Security for a Sustainable Future,” in Calabar, Cross River.

They noted that complex regulatory and policy environments, inadequate energy infrastructure, insufficient application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in renewable energy solutions, limited gas storage capacity, and insufficient gas infrastructure, according to the group, are escalating the energy crisis in Nigeria.

APWEN highlighted that public awareness of biofuels as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuels should be heightened as part of Nigeria’s decarbonisation strategy, adding that startups must scale up production to meet growing demand while ensuring affordability for low-income households and maintaining business viability.

The group noted that women engineers should be offered more leadership opportunities to bring diverse perspectives to engineering innovation and problem-solving in the energy sector while a robust framework to address the fragmentation of gas infrastructure networks in Nigeria should be implemented.

“Efforts to eliminate gender biases within engineering must be codified into law, recognising that women are indispensable problem-solvers both in the home and in society at large. To achieve energy security, continuous training of young engineers, including women, should be institutionalised and encouraged. Also, deliberate frameworks and initiatives to support local entrepreneurs, particularly in the energy sector, must be established at all levels of governance,” it said.

In a communiqué signed by APWEN President, Dr Adebisi Osim, and the chairman of Technical Committee, Dr. Tolulope Erinosho, APWEN stressed that there is the need for women-specific financing, incubation, and training programmes, spearheaded by organisations such as APWEN, which plays a crucial role in nurturing female entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s energy sector.

The group further said: “The energy sector remains one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide, with a 30 per cent increase in energy startups globally over the past five years, 20 per cent of which are led by women. In Nigeria, 37 per cent of jobs in the renewable energy sector are held by women. Viable entrepreneurial opportunities in the energy sector in Nigeria are solar power, biogas, waste-to-energy technologies, mini-grid solutions, AI-powered energy solutions, and energy storage innovations.”