Nigeria’s power supply is notoriously epileptic, a majority of Nigerians are not connected to the national grid and those connected – mostly in urban areas – endure incessant brownouts and blackouts. Given that Nigeria has tremendous solar energy potential as Africa’s largest economy, solar could reliably power large swathes of the country, if not the entire country.
However, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) July 2020 report, titled “Renewable Energy Statistics 2020”, Solar projects in Nigeria had only 28 MW of solar PV generation capacity installed by the end of 2019, compared to South Africa’s 3,061 MW (Top 10 largest solar PV project in South Africa). Utility scale solar power generation is currently unattractive to the federal government primarily because of excess generation capacity in the national grid from thermal plants.
This excess capacity is caused by transmission and distribution bottlenecks, not by lack of demand. At the individual level, most residential consumers cannot afford the upfront costs of a solar installation that is commensurate with their current or desired consumption. Therefore, solar home systems are uncommon and sizable solar installations are for commercial and Industrial (C&I) consumers who want to reduce heavy reliance on costly diesel generators.
The 10 largest solar projects in Nigeria launched or under construction ranked by MW-peak are the following:
- Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi 3.5 MW
- Bayero University, Kano 3.5 MW
- Tulip Cocoa Processing Ltd., Ijebu Mushin 2.35 MW
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 2MW
- Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 2MW
- Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing (FMPWH) Secretariat, Abuja 1.52 MW
- Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant, Abuja 1.2 MW
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike-Ikwo 1.155 MW
- Nigerian Breweries Plc., Ibadan 0.663 MW
- Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja 0.610 MW
See below the full table with the 10 largest solar projects in Nigeria.
| Federal University of Agriculture | Bayero University | Tulip Cocoa Processing Ltd. (TCP) | Nnamdi Azikiwe University | Usmanu Danfodiyo University | Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing (FMPWH) | Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant | Alex Ekwueme University | Nigerian Breweries, Ibadan | Jabi Lake Mall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | PV-Hybrid | PV-Hybrid | PV-Hybrid | PV-Hybrid | PV-Hybrid | PV | PV | PV-Hybrid | PV | PV |
| PV Size (Megawatts- peak, MWp ) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.35 | 2 | 2 | 1.52 | 1.2 | 1.155 | 0.664 | 0.610 |
| PV-Hybrid Size (MW) | 8.25 | 7.1 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | N/A | N/A | 2.8 | N/A | N/A |
| Location | Benue State | Kano State | Ogun State | Anambra State | Sokoto State | Abuja | Abuja | Ebonyi State | Oyo State | Abuja |
| Construction Start | July 2018 | February 2018 | October 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | June 2019 | April 2015 | May 2018 | March 2019 | July 2019 |
| Operational | August 2020 | September 2019 | April 2019 | Under Construction | Under Construction | Under Construction | August 2016 | August 2019 | November 2020 | April 2020 |
| Developer/ Sponsor (s) | FMPWH | FMPWH | Alfen BV | FMPWH | FMPWH | Em-One Energy Solutions | FMPWH | FMPWH | CrossBoundary Energy (CRE) | CRE |
| Owner (s) | Federal Govt of Nigeria (FGN) | FGN | Tulip Cocoa Processing Ltd. (TCP) | FGN | FGN | FGN | FGN | FGN | CRE | CRE |
| Offtaker | Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. | Bayero University | TCP | Nnamdi Azikiwe University | Usmanu Danfodiyo University | FMPWH | Federal Capital Territory Water Board (FCTWB) | Alex Ekwueme University | Nigerian Breweries Plc. | Jabi Lake Mall |
| PPA | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | 15 Years | 15 Years |
| Prepaid Metered Offtaker price/ kWh (NGN) | Range 20 – 45 | Range 20 – 45 | Direct Equipment Purchase | Range 20 – 45 | Range 20 – 45 | 60 | Unknown | Range 20 – 45 | PPA oftaker price unknown | PPA offtaker price unknown |
1. FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI (FUNAI) 8.25 MW
The off-grid, solar PV-hybrid plant is located on the campus of FUNAI, Benue State, in the North Central part of the country. The project is the largest of the solar projects in Nigeria.
The project was executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energizing Education Program (EEP) of the federal government.
The EPC contractor for the project was Indian firm Sterling & Wilson Nigeria Ltd.
The university is owned and run by the federal government.
2. BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO (BUK) 7.1 MW
The NGN5.6 billion off-grid, solar PV-hybrid plant is located on the campus of Bayero University in Kano, Kano State, in the Northern part of the country.
The solar farm component comprises 10,680 solar panels and sits on about 2 hectares of land.
The project was executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energizing Education Program (EEP) of the federal government.
The EPC contractor for the project was Greek firm METKA West Africa Ltd, which has done several solar projects in Nigeria.
The university is owned and run by the federal government.
3. TULIP COCOA PROCESSING (TCP) 2.35 MW
The off-grid solar PV hybrid plant is located in the town of Ijebu Mushin, Ogun State, in the Southwestern part of the country.
The PV component comprises 7,192 solar panels.
Dutch energy storage specialists Alfen BV, who was the sponsor of the project, awarded the EPC contract to British firm SolarCentury Ltd.
Tulip Cocoa Processing (TCP) Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dutch cocoa products trader Theobroma B.V.
4. NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY 2 MW
The NGN3.5 bn off-grid, solar PV-hybrid plant is located on the campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, in the Southeastern part of the country.
The project is executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energizing Education Program (EEP) of the federal government.
The EPC contractor for the project is Greek firm METKA West Africa Ltd.
The university is owned and run by the federal government.
5. USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY 2 MW
The off-grid, solar PV-hybrid plant is located on the campus of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, in the Northern part of the country.
The project is executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energizing Education Program (EEP) of the federal government.
The EPC contractor for the project is Greek firm METKA West Africa Ltd.
The university is owned and run by the federal government.
6. EM-ONE 1.52 MW
The solar-plus-storage microgrid is under construction in the town of Mabushi, Abuja.
The grid-connected plant is owned by the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH).
The contractor for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) is Canadian-Nigerian firm Em-One Energy Solutions Ltd.
The project is financed by the federal government through the issuance of Green Bonds.
7. USMAN DAM WATER TREATMENT PLANT 1.52 MW
The US$9.7 million solar PV plant is located at the Usman Dam water treatment plant in Bwari, Abuja.
The grid-connected plant, which does not include storage batteries, is owned by the federal government through the Federal Capital Territory Water Board (FCTWB).
The contractor for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) was Japanese firm Toyota Tsusho Corporation.
The project was 100 percent financed by grant aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
8. ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY 2.8 MW
The off-grid, solar PV-hybrid plant is located on the campus of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike-Ikwo, Ebonyi State, in the Southeastern part of the country.
The solar PV component comprises 3,500 solar panels.
The project was executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on behalf of the federal government.
The EPC contractor for the project was Indian firm Sterling & Wilson Nigeria Ltd.
The university is owned and run by the federal government.
9. NIGERIA BREWERIES (NB) PLC 0.663 MW
The off-grid solar PV plant is located at NB’s site in the city of Ibadan, Oyo State, in the Southwestern part of the country.
Dutch brewing giant Heineken B.V. owns 37.5% of NB.
The sponsor of the project was CrossBoundary Energy, a U.S.-based investment fund dedicated to financing off-grid solar projects in frontier markets.
The PV plant comprises 1,680 solar panels.
The EPC contractor was Nigerian firm Topec Nigeria, who will also be responsible for operations and maintenance (O&M) of the plant.
CrossBoundary will sell the electricity from the plant to NB under a pioneering “solar-as-a-service” 15-year PPA.
10. JABI LAKE MALL 0.610 MW
The off-grid solar PV plant is located at the Jabi Lake Mall in Jabi, Abuja, in the Central part of the country.
Actis, a U.K.-based private equity firm, owns Jabi Lake Mall.
The sponsor of the project was CrossBoundary Energy, a U.S.-based investment fund dedicated to financing off-grid solar projects in frontier markets.
The PV plant comprises 1,848 solar panels.
The EPC contractor was German firm Soventix GmbH.
CrossBoundary will sell the electricity from the plant to Jabi Lake Mall under a solar-as-a-service 15-year PPA.
