The United Nations has unveiled a solar power project to reduce electricity costs, cut carbon emissions, and promote sustainable energy use.

The solar power project is also part of the strategies to advance its clean energy drive in Nigeria.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, disclosed this last week during the switch-on ceremony of Phase I of the Greening of the UN House project in Abuja.

Noting that the initiative marked a step toward renewable energy adoption within the UN system, Fall said the solarization project demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to sustainability, adding that it aligned with global efforts to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

“In a few moments, with the flip of a switch, this building will begin running on sunlight.

“This is more than a technical milestone; it is a statement that the future of energy is already here,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria holds enormous renewable energy potential, particularly through solar power, noting that reliable electricity remains critical for economic growth, productivity, and social development.

The UN official disclosed that the organization was proud to support Nigeria’s efforts to expand renewable energy in line with the Electricity Act 2023 and the country’s climate commitments.

He added that Phase I of the project included a 400-kilowatt-peak solar photovoltaic microgrid, expandable to 700 kilowatts, alongside 650 kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion battery storage to provide energy resilience.

Fall also said the system features artificial intelligence-driven energy management and Internet of Things digital monitoring to optimise power use and track system performance in real time.

He explained that the solar installation would reduce annual electricity costs for the UN House by about 40 percent, translating to savings of between 173 million naira and 216 million naira annually.

He added that the project would also cut grid electricity consumption by nearly one million kilowatt hours each year and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 300 tonnes annually.

Fall also said the initiative reflected collaboration among various UN agencies operating within the common premises, and was implemented with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme.

Fall further said the UN planned to expand the initiative under Phase II, which will increase solar capacity toward 700 kilowatts and further reduce reliance on conventional grid power.

According to him, the long-term goal is to move the facility toward near-complete clean energy autonomy, while encouraging similar projects across institutions in Nigeria.

In his remarks, managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr Abba Aliyu, commended the UN for demonstrating that renewable energy solutions were both practical and economically viable.

Aliyu noted that Nigeria required an estimated US $23 billion to electrify underserved and unserved communities across the country using the most cost-effective approaches.