The objectives of Regional Centre for Small Hydro Power (SHP) in Abuja, Nigeria, under the aegis of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, a Government body. The Centre will facilitate a variety of programs and projects related to renewable energy technologies in general and Small Hydro Power in particular, within the country and the Western African Region. SHP has been identified as one of the most appropriate, environment friendly and economical renewable energy sources, which can provide convenient and uninterrupted energy to off-grid rural villages in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries. It is envisaged that the Centre would play a critical role to promote and accelerate sustainable development through developing cost-effective technology, utilizing local equipment, materials and labour, providing training and awareness building programs on renewable energy systems and small hydro power development schemes, organizing consultancy programs on comprehensive aspects of implementing RE systems and small hydro development. The establishment of the centre will further facilitate the implementation of necessary local infrastructure (encompassing academic, research, training and consultancy including linkage with manufacturers of parts and components to be used in electromechanical systems) to exploit the small hydro potential to the fullest

Background

At a time when Nigeria and other developing and third world countries urgently need a comprehensive sustainable development strategy in all sectors of economy, especially in the power sector, the promotion and popularisation of Small Hydro Power (SHP) systems deserve priority in policy considerations. As it is recognised throughout the world, that SHP development is econo-ecologically sustainable, and operationally flexible with opportunity for people's participation in its total life cycle process, it is most suitable for flexible peak load support to grid power systems as well as for independent and stand alone applications in isolated remote areas. It is also realised in many parts of the world, where small hydro systems are developed and put to use in isolated and inaccessible areas, that the total multiplier and value added effects, including employment generation and poverty reduction/alleviation, are very high and so these can become effective catalysts in promoting sustainable development. In spite of the fact that Nigeria has a history of over 70 years in the development and utilisation of private sector small hydro systems, it has so far exploited only 33 MW out of the currently estimated potential of over 730 MW. Even in the case of large hydro, only 2200 MW out of the total estimated potential of 9000 MW are developed so far. Therefore, it is necessary that comprehensive infrastructure (encompassing academic, research, training and consultancy including linkage with equipment manufacture) be created in Nigeria to exploit the small hydropower potential to the fullest. Further, considering the global environment and sustainability needs, the successful implementation of small hydro power projects will definitely help in mitigating the green house gases, as it is estimated that each kWh of electrical energy produced through thermal sources and used will contribute to the production of an additional 1 kg of carbon dioxide (GHG) emissions. Under these circumstances, it is becoming an urgent necessity to initiate institutional efforts to exploit the small hydropower resources on a priority basis. Power sector strategy in the country is also to look at hydropower in general and the small hydropower in particular, as those requiring adequate institutional and infrastructure planning considerations. In Nigeria and Africa there is no major Centre devoted for small hydro research and development and for training of professionals. The focus over the years in many African countries including Nigeria has been on large schemes, while the training of professionals is integrated/included in the large scheme project development programme. Research and development on small hydropower does not exist while infrastructure for R & D on large projects is also not in place. However, there exist some basic research and development activities in other research institutions on some component disciplines of hydro- power with a different focus and other objectives, but they also lack infrastructure support.

The African Necessity

The African continent and Nigeria in particular are endowed with rich, perennial and non- perennial rivers. When we consider the small hydro potential in each country in Africa, coupled with the political integration of the countries into African Union, the transition of individual economies into regional economies and the African leaders' initiative of NEPAD and the fact that there are no institutions in Africa having a focused research and development priority for small hydro systems, it is a timely need that a Regional Centre with a focused emphasis on research and development, consultancy and training in SHP for the continent be established for Africa in Nigeria. It is encouraging to note that many international agencies promoting sustainable development, like UNIDO, UNDP, UNEP etc., are interested in providing financial and technical support for institutions engaged in solving such problems and promoting SHP. Incidentally, such facilities can be adequately availed only through a Centre, organised and equipped for such tasks. It is in these circumstances that the active interaction of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) with IN-SHP/IC-SHP in Hangzhou, China - the UNIDO sponsored Centre for SHP - is considered fit for elevation for establishing a Regional Centre for small hydropower development in the continent at ECN, Abuja.