Stakeholders Task Developing Nations on Renewable Energy as CRET, RAESON hold International Conference
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Renewable energy systems development will make it possible to resolve the challenges of local energy and water supply in sub-Saharan Africa and further improve the standard of living and level of employment of the local population. This was the consensus of opinion at the 7th international and Annual Conference of the Renewable and Alternative Energy of Society (RAESON) in collaboration with the Centre for Renewable Energy Technology (CRET) Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
The conference with the theme: ‘’Renewable Energy for Environmental Sustainability’’, attracted renewable energy experts from Tertiary institutions, Research institutes and captains of industry within and outside the country. Declaring the conference open, The Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola said in order to advance, developing nations must utilize all the renewable energy resources within the environment to generate power, light up homes and communities, produce clean biofuel for cooking and transportation, increase agricultural production on the farms, create wealth from agricultural and municipal waste, construct energy efficient buildings that are comfortable both for living and working.
Daramola said that CRET was established in FUTA to promote research into generation of clean energy systems and the vital roles they play in resolving development problems faced by emerging economies such as Nigeria.
He added the CRET is at present collaborating with top universities around the world on cutting edge research work involving energy conversion technologies, bio energy batteries, fuel cells and net zero energy buildings.The Vice Chancellor was optimistic that the conference will throw light on essential issues for environmental sustainability including different sources and alternatives of renewable energy will push renewable energy into the limelight of the nation.
While delivering the keynote address, Managing Director, Engineering Materials Development Institute (EDMI) Akure, Engr. Dr. Samuel Olusunle said any development or advancement that is not sustainable will inevitably destroy the environment.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, Engr. Olusunle pointed out that the number one development challenge facing Africa is power and that the direction to go is the renewable energy option adding that the Sub-Saharan Africa energy infrastructure is meagre, costly and unreliable compared to other regions. Olusunle disclosed that more than 30 of the 48 countries of sub Saharan Africa suffer acute energy crisis and that the entire generation capacity of sub-Saharan Africa amounts to 63 Gig watts (GW), out of which South Africa alone accounts for 35GW.
This scarcity of power he said, has affected both the delivery of social services and the quality of life in the region.The keynote speaker said Renewal technologies are considered as clean sources of energy and optimal use of these resources minimizes environmental impacts, produce minimum secondary wastes area are sustainable based on current and future economic social and societal needs and for all practical purposes cannot be depleted.
He highlighted Renewable Energy Sources to comprise three categories: Fossil fuels, renewable resources and nuclear resources. These resources according to him can be used to produce energy again and again e.g solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy.
On the way forward Olusunle prescribed that tracking the progress of sustainability is essential and that most countries have begun to realise that the need for sustainability in energy production and consumption is significantly vital and will play on important role in power generation in sub-saharan Africa and the world.
In the same vein, Director General/CEO Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Dr. Mrs. Gloria Elemo represented by Dr. Chika Ezeanyaso said harnessing the renewable energy in a decentralised manner is one of the options to meet the rural and small scale energy needs in a reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable way.
She said adopting renewable energy sources will ensure sustainable development of the remote regions in the desert zones and implementation of the obligations of the countries with regard to fulfilling the international agreements relating to environmental protection.
Welcoming participants to the conference, Director, CRET, Professor Olurinde Lafe said the theme of the conference could not have been better chosen considering the developmental challenges facing the sub region as a result of poor power generation.
He enjoined stakeholders to contribute their quota in ensuring the implementation of policies that will foster increase in power generation.
The conference with the theme: ‘’Renewable Energy for Environmental Sustainability’’, attracted renewable energy experts from Tertiary institutions, Research institutes and captains of industry within and outside the country. Declaring the conference open, The Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola said in order to advance, developing nations must utilize all the renewable energy resources within the environment to generate power, light up homes and communities, produce clean biofuel for cooking and transportation, increase agricultural production on the farms, create wealth from agricultural and municipal waste, construct energy efficient buildings that are comfortable both for living and working.
Daramola said that CRET was established in FUTA to promote research into generation of clean energy systems and the vital roles they play in resolving development problems faced by emerging economies such as Nigeria.
He added the CRET is at present collaborating with top universities around the world on cutting edge research work involving energy conversion technologies, bio energy batteries, fuel cells and net zero energy buildings.The Vice Chancellor was optimistic that the conference will throw light on essential issues for environmental sustainability including different sources and alternatives of renewable energy will push renewable energy into the limelight of the nation.
While delivering the keynote address, Managing Director, Engineering Materials Development Institute (EDMI) Akure, Engr. Dr. Samuel Olusunle said any development or advancement that is not sustainable will inevitably destroy the environment.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, Engr. Olusunle pointed out that the number one development challenge facing Africa is power and that the direction to go is the renewable energy option adding that the Sub-Saharan Africa energy infrastructure is meagre, costly and unreliable compared to other regions. Olusunle disclosed that more than 30 of the 48 countries of sub Saharan Africa suffer acute energy crisis and that the entire generation capacity of sub-Saharan Africa amounts to 63 Gig watts (GW), out of which South Africa alone accounts for 35GW.
This scarcity of power he said, has affected both the delivery of social services and the quality of life in the region.The keynote speaker said Renewal technologies are considered as clean sources of energy and optimal use of these resources minimizes environmental impacts, produce minimum secondary wastes area are sustainable based on current and future economic social and societal needs and for all practical purposes cannot be depleted.
He highlighted Renewable Energy Sources to comprise three categories: Fossil fuels, renewable resources and nuclear resources. These resources according to him can be used to produce energy again and again e.g solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy.
On the way forward Olusunle prescribed that tracking the progress of sustainability is essential and that most countries have begun to realise that the need for sustainability in energy production and consumption is significantly vital and will play on important role in power generation in sub-saharan Africa and the world.
In the same vein, Director General/CEO Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Dr. Mrs. Gloria Elemo represented by Dr. Chika Ezeanyaso said harnessing the renewable energy in a decentralised manner is one of the options to meet the rural and small scale energy needs in a reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable way.
She said adopting renewable energy sources will ensure sustainable development of the remote regions in the desert zones and implementation of the obligations of the countries with regard to fulfilling the international agreements relating to environmental protection.
Welcoming participants to the conference, Director, CRET, Professor Olurinde Lafe said the theme of the conference could not have been better chosen considering the developmental challenges facing the sub region as a result of poor power generation.
He enjoined stakeholders to contribute their quota in ensuring the implementation of policies that will foster increase in power generation.
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