Nigeria, a nation wealthy in sources, has lengthy struggled with power challenges, from unreliable energy provide to the absence of a complete metering system. Amid these obstacles, two corporations, Shyft Energy Options and SteamaCo, have come along with a shared imaginative and prescient to drive digital transformation and supply dependable, reasonably priced, and cleaner power options for Nigerians.
Shyft Energy Options, established a decade in the past, was born out of a recognition that energy corporations in Nigeria lacked the instruments wanted to effectively monitor and handle power techniques. The corporate’s focus has been on offering IoT-based options for power monitoring, notably within the realms of backup energy, micro-grids, and photo voltaic battery techniques.
“We realised that energy corporations had property like turbines and photo voltaic batteries unfold throughout totally different places however lacked the power to watch these amenities remotely,” mentioned Ugwem Eneyo, CEO of Shyft Energy Options. “This lack of visibility meant they couldn’t scale their operations effectively.”
Shyft’s answer has been capable of develop sensors, gateways, and software program that supply distant monitoring, preventive upkeep, and data-driven decision-making. This know-how permits energy suppliers to handle their infrastructure extra successfully, decreasing interruptions and growing effectivity.
One of many persistent challenges dealing with the Nigerian power sector is the “metering hole,” the place many shoppers lack correct metering, resulting in inconsistent billing. Shyft’s latest enlargement into the metering area, in partnership with SteamaCo, goals to handle this hole by providing reasonably priced, scalable metering options, particularly for off-grid communities.
“Our merger with SteamaCo permits us to mix our native experience with their metering options, notably for rural areas the place off-grid options are important,” Eneyo said. “Collectively, we’re introducing a extra clear, data-driven method for shoppers to watch and pay for his or her electrical energy.”
Eneyo’s motivation for establishing Shyft Energy Options goes past enterprise. Rising up in Nigeria’s Niger Delta area, the place infrastructure and power entry had been restricted, she noticed firsthand how useful resource wealth usually failed to learn native communities. This expertise drove her to construct an organization that will not solely present progressive options but in addition serve the wants of the folks.
“I needed to begin an organization that allowed the folks closest to the issues to be on the forefront of fixing them,” Eneyo mentioned. “If not me, then who?”
SteamaCo, led by Managing Director, Tom Parkinson, has lengthy targeted on off-grid options, primarily in rural areas. The corporate’s experience in offering power entry via metering know-how is now complementing Shyft’s capabilities in city and semi-urban areas. The merger between the 2 corporations goals to deliver a extra unified, data-driven method to power administration.
“We’re each fixing comparable issues however for various markets,” Parkinson mentioned. “This merger combines our strengths and permits us to supply a extra full answer, giving energy suppliers the instruments they should higher perceive and handle power consumption.”
Collectively, Shyft and SteamaCo goal to enhance visibility into power utilization, a essential consider reworking the ability sector. “You may’t handle what you don’t measure,” Parkinson asserted. “By digitizing power administration, we are able to deliver transparency, scale back losses, and guarantee reliability.”
The imaginative and prescient of the newly merged corporations extends past Nigeria. In response to Eneyo, the goal is to create a mannequin that may be replicated throughout Africa. With techniques already working in 20 nations in sub-Saharan Africa, the merger’s success in Nigeria will set the stage for enlargement throughout the continent.
“Power, together with transport, is what drives economies ahead. If we are able to allow dependable, reasonably priced, and productive energy, we are able to unlock job creation and financial safety,” Eneyo said. “Nigeria is the sunshine of Africa, and if we are able to make it work right here, it would set the blueprint for the remainder of Africa.”
For Shyft Energy Options, success is measured via a mix of metrics that mirror each the size of influence and operational effectivity. Key indicators embrace the variety of meters deployed, the lives impacted, and the quantity of power processed via their techniques.
“We need to empower shoppers to see their power consumption in actual time, which permits them to make extra knowledgeable selections,” Eneyo explains. “This is not going to solely enhance their power effectivity but in addition construct belief between shoppers and energy suppliers.”
Within the conventional metering system, shoppers are sometimes left at the hours of darkness, unable to watch their power utilization. Shyft’s know-how modifications this by enabling customers to trace their consumption by way of cellular apps or internet platforms. The system additionally offers alerts for low balances, consumption patterns, and even permits for auto-top-ups, providing a extra clear and user-friendly expertise.
Each Shyft and SteamaCo emphasised the significance of presidency coverage in creating an atmosphere conducive to funding and development. In response to Parkinson, a secure and clear regulatory framework is crucial for attracting overseas funding into the power sector, which, in flip, will drive innovation and create the infrastructure wanted to assist financial improvement.
“The Nigerian authorities must create a transparent, secure coverage atmosphere that encourages funding,” Parkinson additional mentioned. “Overseas direct funding is essential for the power sector, and corporations like ours present the required income assurance to make these tasks bankable.”
