Operator Airtel Nigeria has chosen Watt Renewable Corporation, an independently owned provider of hybrid solar solutions, to deliver over 32MW installed capacity of solar photovoltaics (PV) and storage across Nigeria.
The contract will see solar power and lithium-ion battery storage installed across 600 sites delivered under an energy-as-a-service model.
Watt says the hybrid solar installations will offer Airtel greater certainty and uptime from its power supply as it expands its network coverage and introduces 4G and 5G technologies in the region.
In addition, by replacing diesel generation with Watt’s hybrid solar solution, local communities will benefit from improved air quality, while Airtel’s scope 1 emissions will also be reduced.
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organisation – for example, emissions associated with fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces or vehicles.
The work will include the introduction of novel enclosure technology for the balancing systems being installed across the sites, leading to better operating efficiencies across the sites. Once the equipment is installed, Watt will continue to operate and maintain the energy generation sites, ensuring both a continued supply of reliable, renewable energy, and an enduring relationship with Airtel.
Watt is a private independent producer of clean energy technology, delivering sustainable energy solutions utilising an innovative mix of photovoltaics (PV), advanced energy storage technology and gensets. It provides turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M) services across Africa, the US and Canada.
