Sokoto — The first integrated renewable energy powered model village in Nigeria has been commissioned in Sokoto.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony and opening session of a three day international workshop on application of renewal energy system, Director, Sokoto Energy Research Centre, Professor Bagudu Danshehu, said the centre conceptualized, designed and implemented the integrated renewable energy system to provide the energy needs of Danjawa, a village with 1,000 inhabitants.

He said the village which was not connected to the national grid, has by virtue of its location, "the appropriate geographic resources that allow the deployment of renewable energy system combining the use of photovoltaic, wind turbines, solar thermal and biogas tech-nologies".

According to him, the idea is to leave out fossil fuels that pollute the environment and deploy systems using PV, wind, solar, thermal and biogas technologies to provide the basic energy requirement of the village.

Danshehu said the 15kw integrated system was implemented optimally for spe-cific applications such as lighting, water hea-ting, solar water pumping as well cooking purposes, adding that there is also provision for households in the village to power their basic appliances.

Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abubakar Sambo, who was represented by the Director, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Prof.Idris Bugaje, said addressing the key energy challenge in the country is the solution to securing Nigeria in the social and economic front.

Vice Chancellor Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Professor Arabu Shehu, on his part described the initiative as a welcome development, noting that it would make it easier for people in the rural area to be exposed to other sources of energy which are available but unexploited.