Leading energy and infrastructure
conglomerate, Sahara Group has moved to prevent annual estimated emission of
35,793,360g of CO2 through the installation of wind turbines at the Egbin Power
Plc.
The wind turbines will power
critical security and essential services architecture at the Power Plant as
Sahara Group continues its quest to promote environmental sustainability in its
businesses across upstream, midstream, downstream, power, technology, and
infrastructure sectors globally.
Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance
and Sustainability, Sahara Group, said the project aligns with Egbin’s
sustainability goals geared towards reducing the Plant’s carbon footprint and
contributing to a cleaner, greener future. “By harnessing wind energy instead
of relying on conventional power sources, the project promises sustainable
reduction in carbon emissions,” she stated.
According to the US Department of
Energy, wind energy produces approximately 11 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour (g
CO2/kWh) of electricity generated. In contrast, traditional sources like coal
emit about 980 g CO2/kWh, while natural gas emits roughly 465 g CO2/kWh.
“Using the operational potential
of the 15 wind turbines installed at Egbin Power, we would reduce an estimated
35,793,360g of CO2 annually,” Gray noted.
She further noted that the
success of this wind turbine project at Egbin Power would serve as a blueprint
for implementing similar renewable energy solutions across Sahara Group’s other
businesses in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. “Replicating this
model could ultimately propel Sahara Group’s sustainability efforts, reduce
operational costs, and strengthen our commitment to environmental stewardship.
The lessons learned from this project could inform future renewable energy
initiatives within the Sahara Group,” she added.
Egbin Power’s Chief Executive
Officer, Mokhtar Bounour said the expected reduction in carbon emissions
underscores the project's crucial role in mitigating climate change and
promoting environmental sustainability. He further noted that: “The
installation of the wind turbines exemplifies Egbin's commitment to adopting
clean energy solutions and aligning with global efforts to combat greenhouse
gas emissions. The project will ensure uninterrupted powering of our security
architecture with clean energy, while ensuring safety, seamless and efficient
operations,” he said.
Bounour stated that a robust
maintenance plan would be implemented to ensure hitch-free functioning of the
wind turbines and associated equipment. He said the plan would include regular
inspections, lubrication of moving parts, replacement of worn components, and
monitoring of performance metrics, all in line with global standards.
Egbin Power, a Sahara Group Power
Generation company, is the largest privately-run thermal plant in sub-Saharan
Africa, with an installed capacity of 1320MW and ongoing expansion plans to
enhance its capacity through a mix of clean energy solutions.
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