The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved new regulations aimed at promoting investment in renewable energy sources. The government it targeting a minimum of 2,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2020. The regulation, Feed-in Tariff Regulations for Renewable Energy Sourced, estimates that Nigeria will generate at least 1,000 MW from renewables by 2018, The Guardian reports.
The regulation expects electricity distribution companies to obtain 50% of the projected electricity generated from renewables.
Likewise the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) is expected to obtain the balance of 50%.
Nigeria’s new regulation stipulates that the capacity for renewable plant should between 1 MW and 30 MW and a plant above this level is likely to require additional conditions other than those already specified in the regulation. For large renewable projects, those above 30 MW, integrated resource planning will be carried out before the NERC will initiate a competitive bid process.