This initiative which was sealed by the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations is designed to
support RIPLE’s renewable energy investments and supply consistent 24/7
electricity to meet commercial and industrial demands.
RIPLE and GIB want to establish an end-to-end battery value
chain in Nigeria, starting with assembly and progressing to full-scale
manufacturing and recycling. “This holistic closed-loop approach ensures
sustainability throughout the battery lifecycle – from mining to recycling –
thereby minimizing environmental impact and promoting resource efficiency”.
RIPLE, a US$500 million renewable energy investment platform
launched by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in November 2023,
aims to drive development, financing, and operation of projects across the
renewable energy value chain.
This spans from upstream renewable technology manufacturing
to energy generation and downstream distribution through sub-franchising in
collaboration with distribution companies.
A statement issued by both RIPLE and GIB EnergyX of Slovakia
in Abuja on Thursday said Mr. Yusuf Umar, Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of RIPLE, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
“At RIPLE, we are excited to partner with GIB on this
initiative which is a major leap forward in our commitments to sustainable
energy. Our goal is to help build Nigeria’s industrial base, commencing with
this comprehensive battery manufacturing. We are committed to ensuring that our
operations are efficient and sustainable. We believe this partnership will be
pivotal in advancing Nigeria’s clean energy infrastructure and fostering
long-term environmental stewardship” he said.
The collaboration leverages GIB’s advanced technology and
expertise, alongside RIPLE’s local knowledge and project execution
capabilities.
“The project aims to catalyze the development of a localized
BESS ecosystem, facilitating the widespread deployment of renewable energy
technologies and expanding access to energy. Additionally, the plant aims to
export to regional markets, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the
renewable energy supply chain and providing a significant source of foreign
exchange” the statement read.
Steven Cai, Chairman of GIB EnergyX and Director at Gotion
HighTech Co, highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration.
“Nigeria is an exciting and fast-growing market hungry for electricity. RIPLE’s
strategy is key in meeting Nigeria’s increasing energy demand and overcoming
the inadequacy of the traditional energy networks and infrastructure through
firm renewable energy solutions, complemented by energy storage.
He added that “GIB will partner with RIPLE in the quest for
the localisation of BESS assembly in Nigeria. Gotion is the majority owner of
GIB, with a top-tier competitive position in BESS and Electric Vehicle (EV)
battery technology and Giga factory manufacturing and localisation expertise.
“We are excited to explore this co-development with RIPLE to
create the local assembly value-chain delivering a range of BESS with our LFP
technology which should significantly benefit Nigeria’s economic growth and
energy transition journey towards net zero through access to 24/7 renewable
electricity” he said.
According to the NSIA, Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan
emphasizes expanding the nation’s generation capacity and ramping up
renewables-backed electrification to facilitate decarbonisation across various
economic sectors.
This has resulted in increasing demand for renewable energy
solutions and complementary battery storage systems as efficient alternatives
to address the country’s energy deficit. Presently, this demand for battery
storage systems is largely met through imports from Europe and China.
This collaboration has the potential to transform Nigeria’s
energy landscape and propel the nation towards economic prosperity, driven by
responsible renewable energy practices utilizing solar generation and
Distributed Smart Grid technology. The project aims to foster the development
of a local BESS ecosystem, supporting the nation’s renewable energy goals and
contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
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