FG Commissions 3MW Solar Plant at Abuja University, Expands Renewable Energy Training
The Federal Government has commissioned a 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja, formerly the University of Abuja, as part of efforts to improve electricity supply for teaching, research, laboratories and other essential activities within the institution.
The project was delivered under Phase II of the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme through the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project. The programme is designed to provide more reliable and sustainable electricity to selected federal universities and teaching hospitals across the country.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, commissioned the project and said the investment was intended to demonstrate the role renewable energy can play in improving power supply to critical public institutions.
The facility comprises a 3.3MW solar photovoltaic array, 3MW of AC output capacity and a 2MWh battery energy storage system. The storage system is designed to support critical electricity loads when solar generation is unavailable, particularly outside daylight hours.
The project also includes solar-powered streetlights aimed at improving visibility and security around the university. The wider programme incorporates supporting electricity infrastructure, including distribution networks and renewable energy training facilities.
The new power system is expected to provide electricity for classrooms, laboratories, research facilities, administrative offices and digital infrastructure within the university. Discussions are also ongoing on extending the power supply to student hostels and other areas of the institution.
Tegbe said the government would consider increasing the battery storage capacity to allow the system to serve more parts of the university. Any expansion would depend on the technical requirements and operational performance of the existing facility.
The Yakubu Gowon University project is one of several renewable energy installations being implemented under Phase II of the Energising Education Programme. The phase covers seven federal universities and two affiliated teaching hospitals located across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
Other institutions covered by the programme include the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; the University of Calabar and its teaching hospital; the University of Maiduguri and its teaching hospital; Federal University Gashua; and the Nigerian Defence Academy.
The projects are designed to provide a combined 32MW of solar power capacity to the participating institutions, reducing their dependence on conventional electricity sources and diesel-powered generators.
Beyond electricity generation, the programme includes a skills-development component intended to expose students to renewable energy technologies. The Rural Electrification Agency has established provisions for renewable energy workshops and training centres where students can gain practical knowledge in areas such as solar technology, power systems and energy management.
REA has also reported that 140 female STEM students across the beneficiary institutions have received training in renewable energy technologies. The agency has said additional students will receive practical training through the programme as the facilities become operational.
The combination of power infrastructure and technical training is intended to give the participating universities a dual benefit: improved electricity supply and greater exposure to the skills required in Nigeria's growing renewable energy sector.
For Yakubu Gowon University, the solar project could also provide opportunities for academic research and practical learning in areas such as solar power generation, battery storage, energy efficiency and energy management.
The long-term success of the project, however, will depend on effective maintenance, reliable distribution across the campus and the ability to keep the solar and storage infrastructure operating efficiently.
With the Abuja facility now commissioned, attention will turn to its performance and the extent to which it improves electricity availability across the university, while the Federal Government and the Rural Electrification Agency continue implementation of similar projects at other institutions.
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