Winner of Best C&I Solar Project in Africa
November 2021
EM-ONE’s Mabushi Solar project wins “Best C&I Solar Project of the Year” at AFSIA’s Awards 2021.
Olufemi Akinyelure (Federal Ministry of Power), Karine Makhijani Malagon (EM-ONE), Mir Islam (EM-ONE)
London, United Kingdom - EM-ONE Energy Solutions won “Best Commercial & Industrial Solar Project of the Year” at the second annual Africa Solar Industry Association’s Solar Awards at the Africa Energy Forum, held in the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.
The winning project #MabushiSolar, is an advanced solar microgrid (1.52 MWh PV with 2.28 MWh energy storage) that powers multiple Federal Nigerian Government (FGN) office buildings in the country’s capital city, Abuja. It is the first ever solar microgrid to power the FGN’s own operations with renewables, designed with the capability to export excess power back into the grid.
Anita Otubu (Rural Electrification Agency), Karine Makhijani Malagon (EM-ONE), Mir Islam (EM-ONE)
This project saves the client up to 58% on their annual energy bills, drastically reducing their consumption of power from non-renewable sources by 70%, and offsets approximately 2,600 tons of carbon emissions per year.
“It is incredible for the efforts and dedication of our team and client to be recognized in this award by AFSIA. Our client, the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing had the vision to use this project as a showcase for renewable energy for the future of Nigeria. It truly does set the stage for scaling solar to meet the pressing energy challenge in the country.” — Mir Islam, CEO of EM-ONE.
“If there was ever an ounce of a doubt that solar is on the move in Africa, it would have certainly disappeared after these awards. The full display of talent, innovation, and dedication left me speechless. More than ever I’m confident for the future.” said Tony Tiyou, CEO of Renewables in Africa and a member of the Awards jury.
The power sector in Nigeria is dominated by the intensive use of fossil fuels for power generation. Despite being an economic powerhouse in the continent, national electrification rates remain low in Nigeria, at about 45%. Nigerians who are fortunate enough to have a grid connection continue to cope with an unreliable national electric grid and resulting daily blackouts and brownouts, even in the capital city of Abuja. Low electrification rates and an unreliable, fossil fuel-powered national electric grid continue to stifle the Nigerian economy and inhibit it from reaching its economic potential.
