The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has agreed to agreed to partner with Daystar Power Solutions Limited (Daystar Power) and The Wood Factory Limited (Wood Factory), to pioneer the delivery of its first grid-connected and solar hybrid power solution for commercial and industrial customers in Nigeria.
A tripartite agreement aimed at consolidating AEDC’s leadership in the provision of integrated power solutions was signed in Abuja on Thursday.
The signing of the agreement is coming on the heels of the first interconnected mini-grid power solution for communities in Nigeria launched by AEDC and its strategic partners in Toto, Nasarawa State, in November 2023.
Under the terms of agreement, AEDC would provide 18 hours of reliable electricity supply to Wood Factory, a top furniture manufacturer in Abuja, while Daystar Power would provide six hours of solar powered electricity to Wood Factory, both leveraging interconnected power facilities to deliver seamless electricity supply and great value to the customer.
AEDC said in a statement that the integrated power solution deal is expected to yield an estimated 44 percent reduction in energy costs, in addition to an impressive 76 percent annual decrease in carbon emissions for Wood Factory.
The unique value offering, the DISCO said, was in furtherance of its transformational strategic objective of redefining customers’ experience by providing reliable electricity supply to both existing and new customers, including the unserved and underserved customers.
Under its ongoing transformation of the management to drive its repositioning processes as a clear leader amongst the power distribution companies in Nigeria, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AEDC, Christopher Ezeafulukwe, said the company was excited about the great opportunities that the transformation and turnaround of AEDC was giving to serve its customers, both new and existing, in more delightful ways.
“This project is a product of our consistent questioning of the status quo in the resilient push of our conviction and belief in using diversified energy sources to serve our customers better, while closing the supply gap in our market,” Ezeafulukwe said.
Having previously commissioned an integrated power solution to serve some unserved communities in its franchise network, the MD said the current solution for which AEDC signed the agreement was focused on serving industrial and commercial entities, thus repositioning AEDC to serve better all bands of customers within its network.
The two projects, he pointed out, also confirmed to the world the readiness of AEDC to enter into complementary partnerships that would add great value to the Nigerian electricity market.
AEDC has been in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) through which the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) was providing funding for feasibility study grant and facilitating the optimization of energy supply through distributed solar energy and grid power.
CEO of Daystar Power, Jasper Graf von Harden berg, expressed his company’s excitement about the innovative interconnected solar installation, stating that working together with DISCos would enable them provide reliable and affordable power to Nigerian businesses which would save on energy costs to reinvest in their operations.
“Our partnership with AEDC supports this position. It is just the beginning. We are looking forward to developing more hybrid solar projects for C&I customers in partnership with the likes of AEDC,” he said.
The Director and General Manager of The Wood Factory, Mohamed Akar, expressed his excitement about the transition from self-generated supply to the integrated power supply which AEDC and Daystar offers.
“We’re thrilled that we’ll soon be switching to a reliable integrated power solution to power our factory. For many years, we’ve operated on diesel generators, which is hardly sustainable or affordable. We believe that the future of our business has become brighter with this new partnership with AEDC and Daystar,” he said.
AEDC is reputed to be a leading electricity distribution company in Nigeria serving the franchise area covering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the adjoining areas of Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States. AEDC says it is dedicated to ensuring reliable, safe, and sustainable electricity delivery to its diverse customers. With a strong commitment to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria’s energy sector through investments in infrastructure, innovative technologies, and sustainable practices, AEDC consistently seeks to improve the quality of life for its customers, promote efficient energy usage, and actively engage with its communities.
