My main aim in this publication is to provide
relevant information which I have gathered in the
past 3years, based on field experience and
reputable public sources.
Solar power is the conversion of sun light into
electricity, either directly using photovoltaic cell
(PV) or indirectly using concentrated power
according to ‘Wikipedia’. My focus would be on
photovoltaic cells (solar cells), it products and it
multiple useful application in our society.
Solar cells had been used in powering small and
medium sized applications, from calculator
powered by a single cell to off-grid solar powered
homes. Prices of solar panels has dropped
drastically in recent times from $80-$50/ Watt in
1970s to about 0.33/Watt in recent times, making
solar power an emerging inexpensive cleaner
source of electricity where grid power (NEPA) is
not available or inconsistent. Solar cells produce
Direct Current (DC) which fluctuates with sun
intensity, in larger system e.g. Home-system
INVERTER (convert DC to AC) is used to power
appliances using AC and batteries of different
capacities are used to Store excess power in
daytime.
Solar power has much potential in Nigeria which
is close to the Equator and is tropical; however
there are wide climatic variations in different
communities. Our National Average Monthly
Hours of Sunshine is 6Hrs a day while some
areas like Maiduguri, Nigeria receives
approximately 8hrs of Sun light a day.
Innovation in solar power technology are
beginning to have profound impacts in all areas of
resisdential use which includes lighting, mobile
phone charging, entertainment and security etc. In
area of household lighting in rural and suburban
areas, SOLAR LANTERNs is emerging as the safest
and long term cost-effective lighting source
compare to other alternatives like candle and
kerosene lamps, with some having capacity to
charge mobile phones, music players, mosquitoes
repellent etc.
According to LIGHTING AFRICA initiative more
than 800,000Pcs of solar products are sold in
Africa annually, with estimated +700 million
Africans living without Grid connection in remote
and rural areas. Some enterprises such as Solar
Aid (East Africa), Solar sisters, Talkers Energy
(Nigeria) are designing different business models
for cost-effective last-mile distribution of solar
products especially SOLAR LANTERNS , Mini-
Home-Systems to people who needed it the most.
Solar Lanterns will reduce the dependency of
people on candles and kerosene lanterns; they are
cost-effective in the long-run and have a payback
period of 3-4 month due to household saving
from using them.
Benefits;
· Increase reading time of children
· Safer and brighter lighting source
· Low maintenance cost
· 2-3years life span
· Reduce household energy spending on
lighting
The market for solar product is emerging and less
competitive and most of the products are readily
available in the market. We have seen young
people from different African countries taking
advantage of the opportunity with some netting
sales of 500Pcs a year with profit margins of
8-10%. There are also many funding
opportunities’ for young solar entrepreneurs
locally and internationally.
We look forward to
writing about your successes soon on our blog.
Please like and share you might just be the key to
a friend fortune.
For enquiries and opinions contact us by SOLARTALKERS dot COM.

Star power, I have been following you up for a quite a while. Please, What would it take to get working with you