Thursday, March 28, 2024

Solar Energy in Nigeria: A Dream or Hoax

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FAVOUR Chijioke, 32, moved from one end of the grocery store to the other while she arranged her goods for display and attends to a customer at the same time, the smile on her face is at odds with her current reality.

The mother of two runs a grocery store in Suleja, Niger State, where until last year she spends about N3,500 ($9) weekly on petrol for her generator to be able to power the appliances in her store which is not connected to the national electricity grid.

 She decided to opt for a solar mini-grid connection because of the expensive cost of buying petrol to power her generator.

“When I checked the amount I had spent on buying petrol every day I had to buy this solar home system and the situation is far better now than before,” she said.

Whenever Favour turns on her solar micro-grid system of 1.5 kilovolts, Kv, she promptly unplugs the freezer and electric fan in the shop so that she can charge her phone and light the three bulbs. 

Though the generator produces noise and fumes, it can power all the appliances in her shop, whereas the solar mini-grid system which costs N74,000($190) offers limited power supply that can barely power the freezer.

Favour is among Nigerians who spend $14 billion yearly on small generators according to a World Bank data. Read more

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