Solar energy generated for German Bundeswehr in Nigeria

They create a self-sufficient, sustainable ecosystem around the German Bundeswehr sites. All plants were built and operated by Daystar Power, a company specialising in energy supply. Daystar Power belongs to the venture builder Sunray Ventures of the German founders Christian Wessels and Jasper Graf von Hardenberg. Two further locations in Nigeria are already in the planning stage.

Daystar Power is a founder of the venture builder Sunray Ventures, which has set itself the task of making a significant contribution to the electrification of the African continent through private equity investments and thereby promoting the systematic expansion of renewable energy resources.

In the Nigerian capital Abuja, Daystar Power erected a solar plant consisting of AEG solar modules on the premises of ‘Armed Forces Electronic and Mechatronics Engineering A and Mechatronics Engineering (AFEME) Workshop and School’. These largely replace the usual power supply by diesel gensets on the entire training grounds. This means that the training centre, lighting, sockets and air conditioning systems can be operated cost effectively and in an environmentally friendly manner.

In Jaji in the central Nigerian state of Kaduna, there are two other properties supplied with solar energy by Daystar Power: The medical centre and the GTAG training centre, where the Nigerian Army is trained by Bundeswehr units. Two further properties in Nigeria are already in the planning stage.

Christian Wessels, Managing Director of Sunray Ventures, stated: "One of the main difficulties affecting Africa's economic development so far is the lack of a comprehensive and stable energy supply. The interruption of cold chains, the undersupply of schools and hospitals with energy and the general unreliability of the energy supply represent an insurmountable hurdle for companies and foreign investors. This supply gap can be systematically closed by feeding solar energy into local networks. With the help of the long term partnership with Bundeswehr camps in Nigeria, we are securing our investment in the long term. Here we want to point out a path that can be exemplary for whole Africa and should serve as a model for the entire continent.”

Stuart Brannigan, Managing Director of the official supplier of AEG PV modules, Solar Solutions, added: “AEG high-performance modules were deployed in the framework of the cooperation between Germany and Nigeria as part of the basic equipment of three Bundeswehr projects. We at Solar Solutions are proud that the project stakeholders could rely on our product quality and on the valuable service of our partner Daystar Power and chose to deploy AEG solar modules”.