A Committee on Alternative Energy Solutions, inaugurated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has recommended the adoption of hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage, grid integration, and gas-fed backup power as the most cost-effective energy solution for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The recommendation followed a nationwide energy audit and technical assessment conducted in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), which covered universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education that were grappling with high energy costs and unreliable supply.
Furthermore, TETFund has assembled a team of experts to commence the selection of ten beneficiary universities for the establishment of mechanised commercial farms and livestock operations as part of its 2025 intervention. While presenting the report yesterday before the TETFund Board of Trustees in Abuja, Sunday Adepoju, Chairman of the Steering Committee on Alternative Energy Solutions Initiative, stressed that conventional grid power remains unreliable and cost-ineffective. At the same time, diesel generators are no longer sustainable for long-term use.
“Institutional energy demands must be met through resilient and cost-efficient solutions. Gas-fired generators offer cleaner backup where natural gas is available, while diesel units should be phased out or retrofitted for cleaner alternatives,” he said.
