By Muhammad Sal
A Nigerian inventor from Bayelsa State has developed a novel method to generate electricity using borehole water to power turbines, achieving a capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) and above. This breakthrough offers a promising alternative energy source amid Nigeria’s ongoing power supply challenges.
The innovation involves utilizing water stored in borehole tanks to drive turbines that produce electricity, a technique that could complement existing power generation efforts in Bayelsa and beyond. According to Stanley Dide, the source of this information, the system harnesses readily available water resources to generate sustainable power.
Bayelsa State has been actively pursuing various power projects to address its electricity deficits, including plans for large-scale gas-fired power plants. For instance, the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd recently began an Environmental Impact Assessment for a 60MW gas turbine power plant near Yenagoa, aiming to reduce reliance on the national grid and ensure stable power supply across the state.
This new water-driven turbine technology aligns with the ongoing efforts to diversify energy sources in Nigeria, where hydropower is recognized as the most economical electricity source, offering tariffs significantly lower than other generation plants. While traditional hydropower plants face challenges such as seasonal water variability, the borehole water turbine system could provide a more controllable and scalable solution.
Experts emphasize that Nigeria’s electricity sector faces multiple challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, high transmission losses, and over-dependence on gas-fired plants. Innovative, locally adaptable solutions like this borehole turbine could play a vital role in overcoming these hurdles and advancing Nigeria’s power sufficiency goals.
Further development and scaling of this technology could complement Bayelsa’s ongoing power projects, potentially providing off-grid communities with reliable electricity. Collaboration with government agencies and private investors will be crucial to realize its full potential and integrate it into the state’s energy mix.
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