Lagos State takes Solar Power to Schools and Public Healthcare Centers

This is to provide underprivileged and underserved communities with a clean, sustainable and trustworthy energy supply, and constitutes an immensely significant and progressive move.

The immense project was begun on 7 January with the installation of solar power facilities at the Epe Public Healthcare Center. The next beneficiaries are the schools of the Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry and Riverine areas. In preparation for this move, the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) has already conducted energy audits of these schools (and others) to identify the exact needs of the schools for energy services. Subsequently, a digital monitoring system will help to operate the system and ensure its sustainability. Altogether, the scheme will bring uninterrupted sustainable power services to 67% of the State’s isolated or disadvantaged schools.

Previously, many of the schools and health centers had been using petrol or diesel generators for their power, or had been operating without any access to power. This project however, will cut these costs, bring renewable energy to these institutions, create sustainable employment opportunities and improve the living standards of students, patients and employees.

The Lagos State Government and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) is set to light-up 172 Public Schools and 11 Flagship Public HealthCare Centers (PHCs) across the state.

This is to provide a Sustainable Renewable Energy Solutions for Schools and Primary HealthCare Centers with a clean, reliable energy services to currently underserved communities in Lagos State.

According to a release from the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) the solar installation at Epe PHC with capacity of 76KWP commissioned on the 7th January, 2015 marks the kick-off ceremony for the exercise. Ikorodu, Ibeju- Lekki, Badagry and the Riverine schools will follow in the series of commissioning of alternative power installations in schools.

Over 67% of Public Schools in Lagos characterized by exceptionally poor or absolute lack of electricity due to their distance and isolation from the city would be connected to the solar solution to run an un-interrupted power supply 24/7.
LSEB has carried out an energy audit exercise of the 172 Public Schools across the six educational districts and 20 zones in the state. This is to ascertain each School and PHC energy requirement gap are being met.

The Solar Power System are sustainable because their fuel (the sun) is inexhaustible, renewable, minimal maintenance and been used successful world over.

The projects would among other benefits relieve the 172 Secondary Schools and 11 PHCs of the burden of operating 352 diesel/petrol powered generators and provide significant cost saving over the project lifecycle, no access to electricity supply from the National grid which in turn could be accessed by the public. Train, certify and create sustainable employment opportunities in solar power generation for over 200 young Lagosians. It will also improve the quality of life for students, patients and Lagos State employees.

General Manager LSEB, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, while conducting the Governor round the installation said a system of digital monitoring has being developed by the Board to centrally monitor operation of the systems at all points.