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Solar Energy News

7 solar tips that can save you money when you know them

Solar power is the conversion of energy derived from the sun(solar energy) into electricity. This electricity derived from the sun can be used in powering your appliances at the home, office, farm, or any other place the installation was made.

 

One thing you should keep in mind is that the sun offers this free energy to you daily.

So, as long as there is sunlight, there will be solar energy.

An amazing fact about solar energy is that energy released to the earth by the sun in one hour can be utilized by everyone in the world in one year.

This means that there is an abundance of solar energy released hourly. This energy is of huge impact on the earth as it can transform the earth greatly.

Benefits of going solar

Here are some crucial benefits of going solar

  1. Installing solar in your home aids in improving your home value.
  2. It makes you independent of the utility company as you get to produce your own electricity using the right components.
  3. Going solar helps save the planet as you get to contribute to the reduction of carbon emission.
  4. It helps improve your health 
  5. Reduction in noise pollution and other kinds of pollution is another benefit of going solar.

While installing a solar energy system at home, your farm, office, or any other place you desire is a nice investment and an economical change to make, it is also necessary that you know solar tips that can help you get the most out of your investment and save you money.

Rather than spending money always, these tips will help you have more money and get the best out of your investment.

Solar tips you should know

1. Know how it works

The first thing you should know is the step-by-step basic process of how solar energy works. This is crucial because when you get to know more about a particular thing, you get to appreciate it more.

And hey,  you do not need to know much about the technical jargon or the whole electrical phrases and application.

All you need to know is the basic process of how your solar energy system works.

2. Heavy appliances during the day

 

During a sunny day, there is a release of so much free energy from the sun. One way to utilize this free energy is to use your heavy appliances during the day as the energy is being released.

This enables you to get the most out of your solar energy system. So, heavy appliances such as a heater, dishwasher, washing machine, and others should be used during the day.

3. Add a battery

The major duty of the solar battery is to store energy for use. Solar energy isn’t produced at night but adding a battery to your installation would make electricity available to you always even at night hereby preventing blackout.

4. Switch to energy-efficient appliances

One way to make your power last longer and save you money is to switch from using energy consulting devices to using energy-efficient appliances.

For example, instead of using the yellow bulb which could consume 40, 60, 80, or 100 watts, consider switching to an LED bulb which is more energy-efficient and can save you money in the long run.

5. Clean your panels

 

Dirty panels can cause a decline in the performance of your panels and the system as a whole. Solar blockers such as dust, leaves, water, sand, ice, bird dropping, and others can limit the functioning of your solar panels.

To maintain your solar panels, you should clean your panels regularly at least 2-4 times a year.

6. Avoid shade

Solar panels do not function effectively under a shade. To get the most out of your panels, you should keep them away from shade and install them in a place where direct sunlight can do justice to them.

7. Maintain your batteries

 

You should get to find out the type of solar battery that was installed for you and know the routine maintenance of such a battery.

Your batteries just like any other appliance purchased are prone to damage if you do not handle it the right way.

Therefore, you must learn how to maintain your batteries or you can contact your installer to conduct routine maintenance for you.

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Solar Energy News Solar Power

How to maintain and care for your solar battery

Solar batteries are one of the major components of your solar power system. The battery functions as the storage tank for the electrical current trapped by the solar panels.

One advantage is having a battery is that it holds the electrical current and makes it ready for use whenever you need it. That is, with your battery, you can have electricity power your appliances any time, any day, any weather as long as it is charged.

As a major component of your solar power system installations, you must take adequate care of your batteries. Batteries like any other appliance are prone to damage if not handled the right and suitable way.

Types of solar batteries

There are different types of solar batteries and they all have their distinct features. They include: 

1. Lead-acid batteries

These are one of the longest-used batteries in the solar world. The two main types of lead-acid batteries are

  • Sealed lead-acid batteries and
  • Flooded lead-acid batteries

Lead-acid batteries are cost-effective, reliable, and can be disposed of easily. They require to be kept in a well-ventilated room and they have a short life span.

2. Lithium-ion batteries

This is one of the most widely used solar batteries in the world today. They require little to no regular maintenance, can hold more energy, and have a long life span. They are equally expensive and highly inflatable.

3. Nickel-cadmium batteries

They are mostly used in the aircraft industry. They are durable, maintenance-free, and can be operated at extreme temperatures. They are highly toxic too.

4. Flow batteries

 

Care of Flooded lead-acid batteries

Your flooded lead-acid batteries require regular maintenance(once in 2-4weeks). To care for these batteries, you should check your electrolyte level and refill when low.

Ensure you equalize your battery charges every 30-90 days. Battery cable connections should be right and terminal connections neat. 

How to check the electrolyte fluid level

The flooded lead-acid batteries are liable to this kind of maintenance routine. To check the fluid level, you need to open the battery cap and have a look inside to gauge the fluid level.

If low, distilled water should be added to top the electrolyte level. For most batteries, there is a fill line indicating the expected electrolyte level. All you have to do is fill it up to that level with distilled water.

How to clean your battery

When using the flooded lead-acid batteries, spillage of acid may occur. When this occurs, it needs to be cleaned. 

To clean your batteries, get a mixture of baking soda and distilled water. Using a clean brush, apply the mixture and brush the spillage to neutralize it.

 

Care of sealed lead-acid batteries

Sealed lead-acid batteries require less maintenance. Ensure battery terminals are tight. Clean any dust collected by the batteries.

Care of lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries require the least maintenance. After installation, you need to occasionally check the state of charge to ensure they are holding a charge properly. 

This shouldn’t be a problem as your installer can walk you through the process. Ensure to check the cables and terminals for proper tightening.

How to safely replace your solar batteries

 

When batteries aren’t properly maintained, their life span may get short. In such cases, it is necessary to replace batteries with new ones.

Avoid mixing old and new batteries. For safe replacement, ensure you contact your solar energy company.

 

Tips for extending battery life

  • Use only distilled water as an electrolyte.
  • Ensure you charge your batteries properly.
  • More batteries equal more connections  So, endeavor you limit the number of batteries used.
  • Never leave your battery uncharged.
  • Equalize your battery often
  • Clean when spillage or dust collection occurs

 

AWPS renewable is one of the leading solar companies in Nigeria. We are dedicated and passionate about what we do. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to guide you as you go solar.

For more information contact us here.

You may also like how solar energy works

How to maintain your solar panels

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Solar Energy News

How To Maintain Your Solar Panels

A lot of questions have popped up in time past about the cleaning of solar panels. While that is something to address, others are quite skeptical about the frequency of cleaning solar panels.

A perfect scenario is this, do you purchase an appliance without properly and frequently caring for it or maintaining it? 

The answer is probably a “NO”.

You see, solar panels just like any other appliance purchased by you need to be cared for and maintained. Maintenance makes it last longer and makes it more efficient.

Why should I clean my solar panels?

Your solar panels need to be cleaned regularly at least 2 – 4 times a year. Dirty solar panels cause about a 20% decline in the performance of your panels.

Solar panels take energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. To get the optimal performance of your solar power system, your panel needs to be clean enough to trap energy from the sun.

Common Solar Blockers

While your solar panels may be kept on the rooftop or ground level, some elements can hinder the proper functioning of your solar panels.

These elements block sunlight from hitting your solar panels and the amount of solar energy trapped by the panels becomes insufficient to power your appliance. Solar blockers include dust, leaves, water, bird droppings, snow, and dirt in general.

How to Clean Your Solar Panels

There are two ways to clean your solar panels. A. Do it yourself. B.Contact your solar energy company

1. Do it yourself

To clean your solar panels yourself, you will need something to clean it and water. Here are the steps to take.

  • First, you need to get on the roof of your house.
  • Apply water to the dirty panels and use your mop to clean till it is neat.

While this may look easy, it is not always a safe step to take.

2. Contact your solar energy company

A safe measure to take in cleaning your solar panel is to contact your solar energy company.

One reason you should do this is that they are professional and they would know how to render professional and safe services.

If you contact your solar company and discover that they do not render panel cleaning services, request they recommend a professional to handle your cleaning job.

Solar Panel Maintenance Tips

1. Never use an abrasive sponge or soap on your solar panel.

Do not clean your solar panel with an abrasive sponge as this can lead to a scratch on the panel.

When cleaning your panel, use water and a non-abrasive sponge.

2. Do not use harsh materials such as sandpaper, hard brushes, etc to clean your panels. Harsh materials can leave a crack on your solar panel and it isn’t an ideal condition for your panel.

3. Be safe on the roof

If you attempt to do your solar panel cleaning yourself, always be careful to ensure you do not trip off, injure yourself or crack your roof.

4. Look out for dirt. Always look out for the common solar blockers as mentioned earlier.

5.Keep your solar panels out of the shade. This is to ensure you get sufficient energy from the sun.

6. Clean periodically.

You should clean your solar panels at least 2-4 times a year. This enables the smooth working of your solar power system.

7. If damaged, call your solar power company.

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Solar Energy News Solar Power Solar Projects

A Step by Step Process on How Solar Energy Works

How Does Solar Energy work?

You probably must have seen those huge panels on the roof of many houses and have asked yourself “oh man how does this thing work?”. 

Well, I will walk you through the process of this solar energy works. Firstly, you should know that solar energy is the most abundant type of energy in the world today and it is gotten from the sun.

That means the sun generates energy which is converted into electricity and used to power your home, office, farm, or wherever you need your installation to be made.

You can also read solar power for beginners

Solar power is of tremendous benefit to you. Once the installation is made, here are some benefits you would get

  • It improves your home value.
  • Solar makes you independent of the utility company.
  • You contribute to saving the planet by installing solar panels.
  • You have money too.

Component of solar

The solar panels installed on the roof are just one of the components that helps in utilizing the free energy generated by the sun. The components include

  • Solar panels

  • Inverter

Solar inverter

  • Battery

Solar Batteries

How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity?

 

1. Absorption

Each solar panel possesses solar cells which can also be called photovoltaic cells. These cells are responsible for absorbing light from the sun. The panels are connected in a series for maximum effect.

2. Electric current

When solar energy strikes the photovoltaic cells in the solar panel, it energizes it and this results in electrons getting loose from atoms. The loose electrons now are put in motion which further creates an electric current.

3. Storage

The electric current generated is stored in your battery.

4. Conversion

The current generated from the sun is a Direct Current (DC) and it is stored as such in your battery. For use in the home or any other place where the installation was made, the Direct Current needs to be converted to an Alternating Current (AC). 

That’s where the inverter comes in.

The inverter converts DC to AC.

5. Ready to use

The converted electricity is ready to use in powering your appliances.

 

A Simple Illustration on How Solar Works

Let’s look at a simpler illustration of how solar energy works. For this illustration,

 

  • The sun is likened to be fuel
  • The solar panel is likened to be a gas pump.
  • The battery is the tank and
  • The inverter is the engine.

Full connection

Here’s how it works

The sun(fuel) hits your panels(gas pump) through a chemical process and the panels turn solar energy into Direct Current (DC).

Your panel determines how much current can be stored in your battery(tank). The bigger your panels, the more energy you get from the sun to store in your battery and the longer you can run your inverter (engine).

The energy stored in the battery is a Direct Current (DC). For it to be used in powering your appliances, it needs to be converted to an Alternating Current (AC) by an Inverter.

The inverter converts the current and sends it to your devices for use.

Final thoughts

Now you know how the sun can power your home and minimize cost.

Interested in installing solar panels for your home, farm, office,e or any other place?

Explore our solar products or contact us

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Solar Energy News Solar Power Solar Projects

Solar Power For Beginners

 

 

Solar energy is the most abundant type of energy in the world. It is the energy gotten from the sun. The sun helps us in different ways. For example, it dries our clothes, dries grains, keeps the temperature of the Earth balanced, and many other benefits.

As a beginner, this article will walk you through solar power and frequently asked questions about solar energy.

What is solar power?

Solar power is the conversion of solar energy which is derived from the sun to electricity. It gives you the ability to tap into the resources hidden in the sun. Instead of powering your home, farm, office, and other stations of yours with a generator or the grid, you can power them using the energy from the sun.

The sun which is 14.24million kilometers away from the Earth can release more energy on the Earth in one hour than can be used by everyone in the world in one year.

What does solar power involve?

To effectively enjoy the free energy distributed by the sun, there are some basic components you need to set up. They include:

  • Solar panels: solar panels can be likened to a fuel pump. It captures energy from the sun and stores it in a battery.
  • Batteries: The batteries are likened to a fuel tank that receives fuel from the pump. Energy is stored as direct current (DC) form in the batteries and when needed, it is converted from direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC) by an inverter converter, and electricity is supplied to your home, farm, office, or wherever your installation was made.

How long has solar been around?

Solar has been around for a very long time as the concept of photovoltaic was discovered far back as 1800’s. The first commercial application of photovoltaics was called solar batteries and was used in 1955 by Bell labs. They were used mainly in remote areas to power telephone switches.

Do solar panels generate electricity when it rains?

Yes, they do.

All the panel needs is a little bit of light. Somewhere about 6:30 am is bright enough to produce electricity from your patterns to charge your panels.

One thing you should keep in mind is this, during rainy days, you may not produce maximum electricity. Getting more solar panels can remedy this situation. However, it is expensive so the best you can do during rainy days is to turn off all appliances and let the sun charge your batteries or you use a generator to recharge your batteries.

Can I power my refrigerator with solar?

Yes, you can. A system of about one and a half kilowatt can power your refrigerator, freezer, lights, television, and fans without any problem.

Can solar power an air conditioner?

Yes, solar power can power an air conditioner. Although, it isn’t advisable to run an air conditioner when you have a limited solar budget because it requires more storage (more solar panels and batteries) which can be expensive.

Is the power gotten from the sun as strong as the power that comes from the grid?

Yes, it is.

The power produced is a pure sine wave which is similar to the energy produced by a good quality grid. This doesn’t allow you to get the noise you normally receive from the grid due to poor transformers or cheap generators. It also produces a constant voltage which makes your appliances happy and makes you feel comfortable.

What kind of batteries does AWPS use?

At AWPS, we use lithium ion batteries only. They can be discharged to 90% and will last for 10 years or more. They are backed by a 10 year warranty

Solar is quite expensive. Why should I buy?

Of course, solar is expensive. 

Some reasons you should consider buying solar is this

  1. It saves you from noise.
  2. When you consider the money spent on fuel, (it is quite outrageous). Solar saves you from this expense.
  3. Solar reduces noise and environmental pollution
  4. Health-related hazards that are caused by exposure to fumes are minimized.
  5. Solar saves you from poor practices that can lead to permanent disability.
  6. Maintaining a generator is expensive which isn’t the same as solar. When you install solar, you pay once, and you are covered for a long period.

Yo‏u may also like benefits of solar panel installation for your home.

Solar or inverter?

An inverter is an uninterrupted power supply. It is charged by the grid or your generator. The grid and the generator are expensive

At AWPS, our systems are designed to be a permanent backup. The circuit board of the systems are thicker, they possess cooling fans so they can run for a longer period.

Solar requires no generator unless you purchase a minimal system or run days of cloudy weather. Our system charges using solar, generator, or grid power supply.

 

There you have it, a beginner’s guide to solar power. Have you got questions about solar power?

 

 

Do well to drop them in the comment section.

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Solar Energy News Solar Power

10 Stunning Benefits of Installing Solar Panels for Your Home

Having solar panels at home and getting the most out of the free energy provided by the sun each day is a wonderful decision to make.

Solar energy is renewable energy derived from the sun. Unlike other non-renewable ways of producing electricity such as oil, coal, gas, etc, the sun replenishes the energy released by itself.  A solar panel when installed traps the energy from the sun and this energy is being converted to electricity for your house use.

 

Installing a solar panel in your home which produces sufficient electricity to power your home is an economical and life-changing step to take.

Don’t take my words for it. You can have a look at the importance of solar energy and why you should install a solar panel in your home. When you are through, you’d finally be equipped with the right information which will direct your purchasing decision.

Benefits of Installing a Solar Panel for Your Home

1. Saves you money

The money spent on the use of electricity, purchase of diesel, petrol, oil and all other things required to power a generator or install a transformer is quite tremendous. While spending your cash on all of these, sometimes you still aren’t sure of the possibility of having a 24hours power supply especially if you reside in Nigeria.

The installation of solar panels at your home saves you so much money that would have been spent on other expensive means of generating power.

2. Improves home value

Installing solar panels at home gives your home a new experience which helps in improving the quality of your home.

You stop being bothered about the nuisance caused by generators, the inconsistent power supply, and you focus more on the free energy that is provided for you by the sun daily.

 

When solar panels are installed in your home, it improves the perception of your home. If in any case, you feel like selling your home in the future, be rest assured that you could make a lot from the sales as solar panels improve the reselling value of your home.

3. Independence

The use of solar energy at home makes you independent of other sources of power supply which are quite expensive in the long run. For example, you stop being dependent on the utility company to provide power supply, you become independent of the high cost of petrol, gas, oil, etc and you receive uninterrupted power supply.

4. Contribute to saving the planet

The use of fossil fuels to power homes contributes to the large emission of carbon which is harmful to the environment, plant, and human health. 

The installation of solar panels at home can help lessen the production of carbon and limit pollution of the atmosphere which in turn means a healthy planet. 

Your home can be a source of hope to the planet and make it a better place to live in if you install solar panels and tap into the free energy produced by the sun daily.

5. Renewable energy

Solar energy is renewable energy. It had unlimited use. Unlike other non-renewable sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy which cannot be renewed, solar energy which is gotten from the sun can be renewed and it will never run out of supply.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory emphasized that the sun releases more energy on the Earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in one year. This clarified that solar energy is bountiful and cannot get scarce or run out.

6. Healthy Legacy

The installation of solar panels in your home enables you to leave a healthy and green legacy for the future. You help in combating the emission of greenhouse gases which are harmful to the health of humans, plants, and the Earth at large when you install a solar panel.

7. Control

The use of solar energy gives you much control over the electricity in your home as you typically stop the use of every other money consuming means of producing electricity. You also have control over the kind of appliance you want to run and which you do not. The use of solar panels at home ultimately gives you control over cost and consumption.

8. Low maintenance

Unlike generators which require you to spend cash monthly or quarterly servicing and maintenance, solar panels are relatively easy to maintain. They do not require a lot of maintenance, all you have to do is keep them clean.

9. No noise, less pollution

Solar energy when converted into electricity produces no noise and reduces pollution. Unlike generators which produce noise and air pollution, solar panels don’t produce any noise while it runs neither does it produce any other form of pollution.

This attribute when compared to the use of generators makes it a healthier option for your home, environment, you, and your family.

10. Prevents global warming

Global warming as defined by NASA is an unusually rapid increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature. It is attributed primarily to the greenhouse gases which are released when burning fossil fuels.

The installation of solar panels in your home helps reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and the consumption of fossil fuels.

 

Final Thoughts

While some persons write about the pros and cons of solar panel installation in the home, we think that there are no disadvantages with solar panel installation.

Apart from the initial investment of purchasing and installing a solar panel which can be quite expensive, solar panel installation is a bold step for anyone who wants a constant power supply while saving the planet.

 

As a bonus tip, the installation of solar panels extends the life of your roof. It fosters longevity as they protect the roof from snow, rain, and debris which could affect it negatively.

Now, it’s up to you to choose to install solar panels at your homes or ignore the useful benefit of this free energy.

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Solar Energy News Solar Power

Electrifying Nigerian Agriculture with Clean Minigrids to Improve Livelihoods

Electrifying Nigerian Agriculture with Clean Minigrids to Improve Livelihoods

A new Power Africa study finds immediate opportunity to initiate and scale the productive use of energy from Nigerian minigrids by electrifying three prevalent agricultural processing activities: rice milling, grain flour milling, and cassava grating.

For the hundreds of millions of people living without electricity access or poor grid supply, the ultimate goal of electrification is seamless integration of reliable power and income-generating activities that propel communities forward. Solar hybrid minigrids can provide cost-competitive and reliable service with plenty of power to run productivity-enhancing machinery to do just that.

In theory, these “productive use” activities can ensure steady sales for the minigrid company, allowing them to pay off their investment and then reinvest in bringing power to still more customers. In practice, most electrification efforts have focused on ensuring electricity supply, leaving electricity demand to grow organically. Today, minigrid loads throughout sub-Saharan Africa remain low, challenging companies, consumers, and development partners to stimulate the productive use of electricity.

In Nigeria, agriculture is the bedrock of the non-oil economy, employing two-thirds of workers and accounting for nearly a quarter of national GDP. While a sizeable portion of economic activity, agriculture contributed to just 2.4 percent of Nigeria’s total foreign earnings in 2019. Strengthening agricultural exports could pay macroeconomic dividends by reducing Nigerian dependence on foreign exchange from exporting oil to fickle international markets. But energy poverty applies friction across the entire agricultural value chain, increasing costs and decreasing quality of agricultural products and hampering export potential.

 

Overcoming Agricultural Energy Challenges

In our experiences with small- and medium-sized agribusinesses, the lack of consistent electricity is cited as one of the foremost challenges to smooth business operations. The World Bank reports that getting access to electricity ranks as one of the major constraints for the private sector in Nigeria. Innovation to increase energy efficiency, supply reliable power, and maximize income is required to improve the livelihoods of agribusiness entrepreneurs.

For Habibu Lawal, a rice miller in Kaduna State, the status quo is costly. He spends $12/day on diesel alone to operate his old, inefficient rice mill. He estimates that the aging motor takes another $12/month to service and repair. Worse still, the outdated one-stage mill shatters a significant portion of the rice grains as the bran and husk are removed, reducing the amount of salable milled rice for every kilogram of raw paddy rice he feeds into the machine.

A new two-stage electric rice mill could cut operating costs by roughly 10% at a $0.60/kWh tariff while increasing the yield of milled rice by 20%–30% and improving the quality of his final product. But without access to financing or reliable electricity in his community, the noisy, unreliable, and expensive diesel-powered machine is Mr. Lawal’s only option.

Despite the clear opportunity, rural electrification and agricultural activities are not tightly integrated. Why? One reason is that agricultural value chains are complex, and there are myriad ways that electricity can be used in them. Should minigrid electricity heat dryers or turn flour mills or chill freezers? Which of these options is the best place to start?

new study by the USAID Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program, led by RMI and conducted in partnership with Sahel Consulting, answers these questions by identifying:

  • the most promising agricultural productive uses to electrify,
  • how these opportunities can be sustained through commercial business models, and
  • the strategies stakeholders can use to overcome barriers to deployment.

 

The Most Promising Agricultural Productive Uses to Electrify

We analyzed 12 crop value chains across Nigeria’s Kaduna and Cross River states, using more than 250 field interviews with farmers, processors, and traders in over 40 rural communities. We also conducted an extensive literature review and discussions with sector experts. Activities with the most potential for immediate electrification demonstrated local capacity to conduct the processing, existing markets for the product, availability of electric processing equipment in Nigeria, and scalability. Considering these factors, prospective activities were classified into three tiers:

  • Tier 1, immediately ready for deployment
  • Tier 2, strong medium-term potential with support to overcome one or more barriers
  • Tier 3, longer-term potential if additional barriers are addressed

The figure below rates each activity on each criterion, summarizing detailed analysis of each value chain and evaluating the viability of electrifying processing activities from farm gate to final consumer.

Exhibit 1: Combinations of processing activities and value chains analyzed, including tier rankings and scoring summaries across four evaluation criteria.

Cassava grating, grain flour milling, and rice milling are three clear Tier 1 activities primed for immediate electrification and deployment in Nigerian minigrids. Each of these can be electrified at scale in existing minigrids today, with little to no market development support. For example, most minigrid-suitable communities in rural Nigeria already host small grain flour millers who convert maize, sorghum, cowpea, soybean, and other local crops into flours and meals used to make staple foods. These mills are fossil-fuel powered, typically utilizing antiquated combustion engines as the prime mover. For example, multi-crop electric flour mills could be operated using the skills that local millers already have, to serve a preexisting local offtake market, using domestically manufactured electrical appliances, at countrywide scale.

 

The Business Case for Investment

Further, there is a clear business case for investment by processors in electric equipment for Tier 1 activities, all of which can be paid back within two years. Our analysis shows that these productive loads also significantly improve minigrid economics by consuming surplus solar power during Nigeria’s sunny afternoon hours. In the scenario with the most productive use adoption (nine cassava graters, 12 flour mills, and five rice mills), the increased electricity sales volume decreased the electricity price required to recoup the minigrid investment by 19%.

 

Exhibit 2: Load profiles for a simulated solar-hybrid minigrid at vary levels of productive use adoption.

Synchronizing agricultural processing with minigrid electricity can improve livelihoods, enhance the financial viability of rural electrification, and reduce electricity prices for consumers. And these opportunities are not limited to Nigeria, as RMI’s ongoing work in Ethiopia, A2EI’s recent research in Tanzania, and Power For All‘ s #PoweringAg campaign clearly show. But breaking the status quo of asynchronous agricultural development and electrification will require significant changes.

 

Strategies for Stakeholders

First, cross-sectoral collaboration between agriculture and energy stakeholders will be indispensable. Today, there is little coordination between actors and projects, leaving most minigrid developers to figure out agricultural productive use on their own, with very little connection to the experts leading the agricultural development efforts occurring in parallel throughout Nigeria. Collaboration can scale and deepen impact. For instance, livestock nutrition programs that increase cow milk productivity will be more successful if paired with cold chain infrastructure that ensures excess dairy makes it to market. This collaboration can be expanded across national borders to replicate best practices.

Second, commercial business models must connect the appliance buyer to affordable credit and reliable power. Our report proposes three different business models that can be used to deploy and scale Tier 1 and Tier 2 productive use activities by addressing financing gaps.

Third, we must learn by doing, and by listening. The history of development spending is rife with well-intentioned interventions that failed to benefit the people they aimed to serve. Pilot projects in advance of widespread deployment can test whether electrical appliances are functional and meet processor and customer needs. Pilots can also provide data on the compatibility of equipment with minigrid hardware, and on the electricity consumption patterns of productive use customers. This data can further demonstrate the financial viability of these investments to inform prospective lenders’ risk perception.

Nigeria’s federal government understands this need. The Rural Electrification Agency is now launching productive use pilots through the Nigerian Electrification Project with the African Development Bank and World Bank. Further, as SEforALL advocates, there is an opportunity to incorporate direct links between electrification and small-holder agriculture in COVID-19 recovery efforts.

The opportunities for electrification in Nigeria have never been brighter. Energy access technologies are poised to deploy at breakneck speed with dramatic cost reductions in sight, and are receiving attention from government, development partners, and the private sector. However, it is essential that distributed energy resources are coupled with business models that boost local livelihoods by using electricity to address pressing unmet needs in agricultural value chains. Pairing productive use and rural electrification with an effective deployment strategy will unlock local economic development and can serve as a springboard toward realizing the mission of rural electrification.

 

Note: This article first appeared on USAID’s Facebook Page, view here

 

 

Source: https://rmi.org/electrifying-nigerian-agriculture-with-clean-minigrids-to-improve-livelihoods/

https://www.sun-connect-news.org/articles/market/details/electrifying-nigerian-agriculture-with-clean-minigrids-to/

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Solar Energy News Solar Power Solar Projects

Yemen’s ‘microgrid girls’ power community amid war and COVID-19

Yemen’s ‘microgrid girls’ power community amid war and COVID-19

A women-run solar station near the front line in Abs is empowering its owners and improving life in their community.

A woman checks batteries at the Abs solar microgrid station [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

A woman checks batteries at the Abs solar microgrid station [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

“The role of women was housework only,” laments Huda Othman Hassan, a young woman from Abs, a rural district in the north of Yemen, near the border with Saudi Arabia.

“Although we are educated and university graduates, we had no decision-making power and couldn’t work in any field.”

But now a new project is helping shift those norms. Last year, Othman and nine other women in Abs set up a solar microgrid, just 32km (20 miles) from the front line in a war that has killed tens of thousands and left more than 3.3 million people displaced.

The project is one of three the United Nations Development Programme helped put in place in front line off-grid communities in the country. The Abs station is the only one run entirely by women.

The other two – located in the Bani Qais district near Abs, and in the Lahij governorate in the southern part of the country – are managed by 10 young men each; 30 percent of them are people who are displaced.

Before the Abs station was built, Othman says, the high price of commercial electricity meant her community was unable to access it. “Most people used a flashlight or a five-watt bulb on a small battery,” she says.

Now, the solar microgrid provides the community with cheaper, clean, and renewable energy, while also tackling another major issue in this part of Yemen – helping women earn a stable income and gain new professional skills.

 

Abs solar microgrid co-owners repair solar panels [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

Yemen ranks at the bottom of the UN gender equality index and there are very limited work opportunities for women, especially in rural areas. 

But for the group managing this project in Abs, the work has been transformative.

“At first, they made fun of us – that we want to do men’s work. But now, our community is respecting us, as we are business owners. They come to the station and ask us if there are opportunities. Now, they want their women to participate and succeed like the microgrid girls,” says Iman Ghaleb Al-Hamli, director of the station.

“The project has built our self-reliance, confidence in participating in society and broken the red line in dealing with men,” she adds. “And we are now contributing to the family monthly budget to cover food and other necessities.”

The site of the solar microgrid project in Abs [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

Producing and selling power

Before Yemen’s war started in 2015, finding food and fuel was already a struggle. Five years on, more than 80 percent of the population needs some sort of assistance and more than half of rural communities do not have access to energy as fossil fuel prices continue to surge and embargoes make fuel even more difficult to obtain.

In addition, COVID-19, which is now rampant in Yemen, is deepening the crisis.

This is the first time in Yemen that microgrids have been introduced to both produce and sell solar power – and they are believed to be the first privately run energy sources in the country.

Before the arrival of the grids, rural communities were reliant on diesel generators – polluting, expensive and susceptible to sudden shifts in the price of fuel.

Now, these three communities have access to sustainable energy and their electricity bills have been “cut by 65 percent”, according to Arvind Kumar, the UNDP’s Yemen project manager. While diesel costs $0.42 an hour, solar energy costs only $0.02, making it more affordable for Yemenis.

 

A woman works at the Abs station [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

“Existing power plants are no longer functional in Yemen and the current energy-transportation infrastructure doesn’t extend to rural areas,” explained Kumar.

“These rural areas are the heart of Yemen’s economy where agriculture, water, public services and the local economy largely depends on fossil fuels. With no income, no jobs and oil price rising, the rural communities would always struggle to stand on their own feet. In this context, solar microgrids, which can be small or medium, are the way forward.”

In setting up its project, the UNDP provided seed grant money and trained the women in Abs and the young men in Bani Qais and Lahij to establish, manage and maintain solar microgrid businesses to bring electricity to their communities.

“I learned technical skills, such as charging batteries, connecting wires, measuring power using an Avometer, converting power from DC current to AC current and checking the capacity in KW,” says Amena Yahya Dawali, a technical officer at the Abs station.

The women’s 20-day training also covered business skills and finance, in addition to four days of orientation on a microgrid model. The project is also supported by the European Union and implemented by the Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) and CARE International.

A woman works at the Abs station [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

Community benefit

In Abs, the microgrid has improved life for the wider community.

“In my community, we used to go to sleep at seven o’clock in the evening. Now, we can accomplish many tasks at night,” Ghaleb says.

“There is a woman who sold one of her sheep and bought a sewing machine and now, she can do sewing in her home at night after her children sleep.”

Climate innovation charity Ashden awarded the project the 2020 Ashden Award for Humanitarian Energy. “Local NGOs thought the project would face huge challenges because it is highly technical and these women had never done anything remotely similar,” a spokesperson for the charity said.

“They said that if you are going to put this very expensive equipment in the hands of people who have never done that, it could be over within four months. But now more than a year on, the grid is still working, generating energy and incomes, and nothing has been stolen or vandalised. The community sees the benefits of it and protects it.”

The other two micro-grid stations are also functioning at full capacity, providing energy to commercial shops. Across all three solar microgrids, electricity sold by the project’s 30 owners has helped 70 times as many people. Some 2,100 people gained disposable income as they were able to start income-generating activities, such as sewing, welding, selling groceries and setting up commercial shops. Including those using the services and visiting the shops, approximately 10,000 people made indirect gains from sustainable energy in the three communities.

 

A woman checks the metres at the Abs station [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]

“The most revealing part of this initiative is to see beneficiaries no longer vulnerable and dependent on humanitarian aid as they now have a sustainable way to generate income, whereas, in other humanitarian interventions in Yemen, it is hard to find such evidence,” Kumar said.

These projects are even more important now that COVID-19 is spreading across the country.

“As we fight back against COVID-19, an already strained healthcare system, economy and society have been stretched to new limits,” said Auke Lootsma, UNDP’s Yemen resident representative. “If we want to meet the demand for power across these sectors, we need to continue building bold on-grid and off-grid decentralised energy solutions, and promote these solutions amongst development partners, private sector actors and international financial institutions.”

The next step for the programme is to secure funding from the private sector and microfinance institutions to build up to 100 additional microgrids in remote areas of the country, in order to keep schools and hospitals open during the conflict and the pandemic. The UNDP is also planning to pilot projects transforming waste into energy and desalination based on the same microgrid business model.

“The future is promising,” says Ghaleb. “Our dream has been fulfilled with this first station, and now we aspire to cover the entire region.”

The ‘microgrid girls’ alongside solar panels at the project in Abs [Photo courtesy of SDF YEMEN]
SOURCE : AL JAZEERA
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/10/18/amid-war-and-covid-19-yemeni-rural-women-set-up-solar-microgrid
Categories
Solar Energy News

In Nigeria, citizens pay more for darkness than electricity

12.10.2020, Niyi Oyedeji

THE anger and frustration on Adelana Martins’ face are unmistakable – there is a power outage just about the time he wants to iron his clothes.

The power failure has thwarted his plan to appear at work by 2 pm in crispy uniform. Yet, he dares not appear in office in mufti, and he cannot be absent from duty without prior notice or a genuine reason.

Martins, 47, and a resident of Igbusi community of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, like many others in the community agonize daily on the epileptic power supply from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

IBEDC is one of the eleven private companies licensed by the Nigerian Government to distribute power to customers since the privatisation of what used to be Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in September 2013.

He was visibly agitated not only about the epileptic power supply in his community but also the ‘crazy bills’ that IBEDC charges even for the poor service.

“We have not had light for two hours in the last 24 hours and we don’t even know when next they would restore it,” Martins says, as he looks forlorn at his wrinkled uniform on a pressing table.

“It can be like this for the next three days, yet they would bring a humongous bill for us to settle at the end of the month,” he adds.

Nigeria currently generates about 4000MW which is insufficient for the consumption of about 200million of its population. According to USAID in a report, Nigeria, the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to generate 12,522 megawatts (MW) of electric power from existing plants because of its huge endowment in oil, gas, hydro and solar resources.

Martins and other residents in his shoes pay as much as N10,000 estimated bills at the end of every month for electricity supply, which according to him, they “never enjoyed.”

“We only pay for darkness,” he says.

Like Martins, Folarin Gbadamosi , who runs a barbing shop in Oke-Ijebu area of Akure, Ondo State, southwest Nigeria decries the high power bill that does not reflect the electricity consumption in his area.

“They only give us power for about four hours out of the 24 hours in a day, yet we pay N8,000 bill every month,” Gbadamosi laments.

The alternative power source which is a small generating set known among locals as “I pass my neighbour” is also not sustainable because of the daily cost of fuelling it. The dismal supply of electricity in the area threatens the survival of his barbing business.

“This electricity no longer favours me, I will soon disconnect myself from it to concentrate on powering my shop with a generator, says the barber angrily “

Tariffs amidst poor power generation, distribution and COVID-19 pandemic

Power generation and distribution have been two major challenges confronting Nigeria’s power sector, despite being the largest economy in Africa. Its generation has not gone beyond 4,000MW while poor distribution is the reason the government cited recently to announce tariffs hike.

Nigerians on September 1, woke up to a 100 percent increment on the electricity tariff plan, a surge that caught many people unaware.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) suddenly increased the light bill known as electricity tariff from 30.23 Naira for one kwh (kilowatt unit of energy per hour) to as much as 62.33 Naira per kwh.

The NERC is primarily to regulate the tariff of power generating companies owned or controlled by the government, and any other generating company which has a license for power generation and transmission of energy, and distribution of electricity.

Explaining his plight with the recent increment, Abiodun Olusoji, a resident of Chika area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city says the increment in the electricity tariff does not only caught him unaware but would make life difficult for him as a worker with a private organisation.

“It’s like the government is out to make life difficult for us in this country, despite the coronavirus pandemic that has crippled so many businesses, the government still deemed it fit to increase the electricity and fuel price now,” Olusoji said.

Victoria Dennis, a resident of Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria who is also dissatisfied with the recent increment in the electricity tariffs stated that the unit of power she bought recently was sold at a double amount, an increment she said would affect her cost of living.

“I went to buy electricity yesterday for our prepaid meter and I could only get a 25-kilowatt unit for 1,500 when I could have gotten like a 60-kilowatt unit for the same amount.”

Despite the increase in Nigeria’s electricity tariff, an outrageous number of the country’s population still lack access to electricity,

Bloomberg reported that an average home in Nigeria gets national grid power for about nine hours daily, which could be worse in some communities and homes.

The World Bank noted that only 57 percent of the country’s 200 million population have access to electricity.

While just 31 percent of people living in the country’s rural areas have access to electricity, the 82 percent of people living in the urban areas who have access to electricity still usually experience persistent power outages.

Infographics on Access to Electricity in Nigeria by Niyi Oyedeji

Bridging the gap with sustainable solutions

In a bid to solve the country’s power problem, Nigeria’s Government has so far spent over N1.7 trillion on the country’s power sector in the last three years but had little or no impact on the already privatized sector.

Meanwhile, so many recommendations made towards salvaging the country’s energy crisis hinged on exploring renewable energy potentials.

Alice Adedayo, Principal consultant at African Energy Advocacy Initiative noted that one of the major keys to sustainable energy in Nigeria is to decentralise energy generation for communities that are off the national grid, adding that such efforts can be made through the use of renewable energy solutions such as bioenergy, solar and wind energy to power underserved communities.

“The government should also ensure full operationalisation of Feed-in Tariff, which allows private companies to send excess energy generated from other energy sources into the national grid, hence the need for policy harmonization across complementary ministries in the power sector value chain,” she said.

On her own part, Yetunde Fadeyi, founder of Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability Initiative for Africa (REES Africa) noted that even though access to energy is fundamental for socio-economic development and poverty eradication but the country needs to do more in diversification and exploration of sustainable energy sources to ensure problems surrounding energy access is solved.

“There is a need for scenarios that ultimately include the hybridization, exploitation and promotion of renewable energy resources, energy efficiency practices, as well as the application of energy conservation measures in various sectors,” Fadeyi recommends.

“There is also a need for favourable policy intervention and incentives to further drive access to power significantly for the pro-poor and encourage low carbon decentralization instead of the use of dirty fossil fuels.”

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also noted that improving the power sector is critical to addressing development challenges in Nigeria.

Oluwaseyi Falaye, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Econergco limited, who stated that the carbon emissions in the country remain on the upward trajectory because of the continuous intensive use of fossil fuel-powered electricity due to erratic power supply from the national grid stressed the need for advancement in sustainable energy technologies.

“The advancement in sustainable energy technologies like energy storage, smart grid solutions, continue falls in the cost of solar power and energy storage, and renewable energy sources in the country serve as an impetus for solving the energy crisis in the country sustainably,” Falaye states.

“The renewable sources in Nigeria are estimated to worth over 500 gigawatts of power and that includes; about 500 gigawatts from solar energy, over 15 gigawatts from hydropower, while wind and bioenergy are estimated to have the capacity to provide 10 gigawatts of clean, green, and sustainable power but for Nigeria to enjoy reliable electricity supply through sustainable power sources there is a need for the government to provide an enabling environment and fiscal regime to attract foreign direct investment for renewable energy projects development,” he said.

Source: https://www.icirnigeria.org/special-report-in-nigeria-citizens-pay-more-for-darkness-than-electricity/

Categories
Solar Energy News

Energy Savings Tips.

It is no longer news that electricity tariff was hiked by between 50% and 100% depending on the location.

It was reported that the new tariff is also a function of hours of availability of electricity 😃.

The first step is to identify the biggest energy consuming appliances in your home. A typical home gives the following consumption pattern:

1. Air Conditioning and Heating- 46%
2. Water Heating- 14%
3. Appliances (Fridge, Washing Machine etc) -13%
4. Lighting: 9%
3. Other Appliances -13%

If you can also invest in renewable energy, Solar is a good one, we have good sunshine and this can be converted to energy. Cost? Yes the initial cost is high, but in the long run, it is a great investment. Get off the grid periodically and save yourself some money.

Anyway, let us share some tips on how and ways you can save energy and pay less bill.

1. Use daylight ☀️☀️as much as possible. Energy saved in the daytime can be used at night.

2. Use fan instead of Air Conditioners where possible 😉

3. Switch off your Air Conditioners when leaving the room…at least for 15 mins. Yes, switch it off . I will even suggest you set your Air Conditioners mode to Auto and set to room temperature.

4. Each LED Bulb you install can save a lot of money over its lifetime. Always switch off light when not in use.

5. Switch off Fridge/Freezer when empty. Better still, if the supply in your area is constant, put the deep freezer off at night or during the day – 12 hourly. You’ll save a lot.🤷‍♂️

6. Do not put hot or warm food straight into the Fridge/Freezer.

7. Use Electric Kettle to Boil Water instead of Electric Cooker. E get why o 😉

8. Iron clothing in bulk and not in small quantities at a time. While at it, put off your fridge and freezer for the period.

9. Do not leave water heater on for too long. Make sure your water heater has a good thermostat.

10. It is cheaper to cook with natural gas than electric cooker.

11. Use heating appliances with functional thermostats. You know why? To regulate the appliances.

12. Keep doors and windows shut when Air Conditioners are in operation.

13. Defrost your freezer regularly to keep it running efficiently.

14. Unplug any devices or appliances not in use at any point.

15. Put off the freezer, fridge, electric kettle and electric cooker while the pumping machine is on. U save a lot thereby.

The list is inexhaustible. However, discipline is key. You must set measurable rules in your home and violators must be sanctioned 😀

By the way I got some of these tips from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, website. So visit the site for more.