Renewable energy stakeholders have intensified calls for the widespread adoption of solar generators in Nigeria, describing the technology as a practical and cost-effective alternative to the millions of petrol and diesel generators powering homes and businesses across the country.
The push formed the basis of discussions ahead of the inaugural Nigeria Solar Generator Day, where policymakers, investors, renewable energy firms and development partners are expected to explore ways of accelerating the deployment of solar-powered systems nationwide.
A statement jointly issued on Wednesday in Abuja by three organisations—ZE-Gen, GOGLA and VeraSol—said Nigeria’s growing appetite for reliable electricity, coupled with rising fuel costs, presents a significant opportunity for the expansion of solar generator solutions.
The statement cited findings from a recent ZE-Gen report titled Understanding Nigeria’s Fossil Fuel Generator Challenge, which estimated that 41 million small businesses and 17 million households currently depend on petrol and diesel generators to meet their electricity needs.
According to the report, Nigerians spend about $8bn annually on fuel to keep these generators running. However, the report noted that a standard solar generator system could satisfy up to 85 per cent of the typical electricity demand of many users, eliminating recurring fuel expenses and shielding consumers from volatile energy prices.
