Lagos, Nigeria – Amidst the recurring and current energy crisis rocking Nigeria owing to incessant power failures, national grid collapse and the soaring prices of petrol – PMS and diesel – AGO; a Nigerian Commercial Bank headquartered in the heart of the nation’s commercial city has started the first building integrated photovoltaics – BiPV solarization project in the country, the first of its kind in Africa.
Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) are solar powered generating systems that are seamlessly integrated into building structures and components such as façades, roofs or windows. This BiPV power generating products have now become the new look of the Sterling Bank Towers with an estimated 6,500sqm of crystalline silicon photovoltaic glasses installed over the Sterling Tower Building’s spandrels.
The installation of this crystalline silicon glass units come with a 2.1MWh containerized battery energy storage system which transcends into an about 1 Megawatt peak (MWp) of power generation thereby reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from fossils and its impact on human biological activities.
The Sterling Towers BiPV project already in its near completion state is expected to decommission and replace the existing 1MW power generating plant currently servicing the tower; and shall in turn save on fossil used in the running, operations and powering of the building. It is also expected to save over 20% in energy consumption and to drastically reduce carbon emissions thus contributing to the world’s expected de-carbonization and net zero carbon emission scenario by 2050.
Started in October 2021 and conceptualized in 2018, the solarization of the Sterling Towers being the first ever BiPV project in Africa is located in the Marina area of Lagos Island. This area plays host to many other banking headquarters and industries to include Wema, Zenith, UBA, UAC, Nigeria Ports Authority, Niger Insurance, Nitel Tower & Building (NECOM House),etc.
The project also saw the coming together of partners and experts in the renewable energy, electrical & power system installations, solar system consulting, procurement and supplies; and chief amongst them was seen in the signing of the largest PV integration project in Africa by Onyx Solar with Sterling Bank and Privida Limited for the supply of building integrated photovoltaic glasses by Onyx in June 2021.
Sterling Bank, for an in-depth knowledge and understanding on the impact of the project proposed by the Project developer, Privida Limited appointed 3E, a professional consulting company in Renewable Energy to perform a technical due diligence on the planned solarization project of the Sterling Bank Towers in Marina, Lagos. This included project site assessment, energy audit verification and the financial model review of the proposed project. The technical due diligence by 3E on behalf of Sterling Bank being the project stakeholder was to ensure the project proposal stayed in line with client’s expected success criteria and objectives.
To actualize the Project and achieve client’s objectives on the solarization of the Sterling Towers; and in its transition into a fully de-carbonized powered building, the project developers, Privida Limited partnered and involved the services of Metikon Engineering Limited an Uyo based Onyx Solar certified installation company and licensed electrical contractor in Nigeria as its Project developing managing partner and BiPV EPC contractor.
Video insert – Metikon Engineering BiPV Engineers on site
In a chat with Mr. Itoro Etetim, ED Innovation and Partnerships at Metikon Engineering Limited, Mr. Etetim mentioned that the idea behind the Sterling Towers was aimed at building an off grid futuristic and sustainable power system using the BiPV as a model which provides saving in materials and energy efficiency, reduces carbon emission, environmental pollution and adds to the aesthetic and architectural appeal of any building; and with the BiPV solarization project being the first of its kind in Nigeria/Africa, the ED reiterated the meticulous role his company Metikon Engineering Limited has played in the actualization of the Sterling Tower BiPV project as a certified Onyx original equipment manufacturer (OEM) BiPV installer and as an electrical engineering and power systems contractor in Nigeria.
Read also – https://energedia.com/global-energy-and-the-pillars-of-de-carbonization/
The BiPV solarization project on its completion and launch into service according to the Project Engineer, Engr. Annie Paul would provide the needed sustainable energy to power the Sterling Bank Building for up to 12hrs per day thereby eliminating the Bank’s over – reliance on diesel powered generators and its dependency on the national grid. The project when commissioned into operations is expected to save Sterling Bank hundreds of millions of Naira per year upon achieving its ROI over an estimated period of time.
The Sterling Tower BiPV solarization project, estimated to be completed in November 2022 is also expected to open a vista of opportunities for other companies in the country to key into engaging and adopting this new aesthetic energy saving innovation of the future.
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