The German armed forces Bundeswehr has commissioned solar power plants at three locations in Nigeria, which are built and operated by Daystar Power
The plants in Abuja and Jaji have a total output of 103.08KW and have been in operation since November 2017. They aim to create a self-sufficient, sustainable ecosystem around the German Bundeswehr sites.
Daystar Power is a founding member of the venture builder Sunray Ventures, which has set itself the task of making a significant contribution to the electrification of the African continent through private equity investments and thereby promoting the systematic expansion of renewable energy resources.
In the Nigerian capital Abuja, Daystar Power erected a solar plant consisting of AEG solar modules on the premises of “Armed Forces Electronic and Mechatronics Engineering A and Mechatronics Engineering (AFEME) Workshop and School.” These largely replace the usual power supply by diesel gensets on the entire training grounds, meaning that the training centre, lighting, sockets and air conditioning systems can be operated cost-effectively and in an environmentally friendly manner.
In Jaji in the central Nigerian state of Kaduna, there are two other properties supplied with solar energy by Daystar Power which include the medical centre and the GTAG training centre, where the Nigerian Army is trained by Bundeswehr units.
Christian Wessels, managing director of Sunray Ventures, said, “One of the main difficulties affecting Africa's economic development so far is the lack of a comprehensive and stable energy supply. The interruption of cold chains, the undersupply of schools and hospitals with energy and the general unreliability of the energy supply represent an insurmountable hurdle for companies and foreign investors.”
Stuart Brannigan, managing director of the official supplier of AEG PV modules, Solar Solutions GmbH, noted, “AEG high-performance modules were deployed in the framework of the cooperation between Germany and Nigeria as part of the basic equipment of three Bundeswehr projects. We at Solar Solutions are proud that the project stakeholders could rely on our product quality and on the valuable service of our partner Daystar Power and chose to deploy AEG solar modules.”
