Times have changed.

For several decades, the evolution of solar power has been slow but very worthwhile. I remember my first encounter with solar. My dad bought me my first small pocket calculator in secondary school—JSS 1 to be precise. It had a solar cell strip at the top right corner through which it generated enough power to run the calculator. That was cool!

Today, there are several solar powered appliances, gadgets and buildings all around us. Even the International Space Station, thousands of kilometres away from the earth, is powered by electricity generated by solar panels.

This interesting solar evolution actually started way back in 1839 when Alexandre Becquerel discovered a material that produces electricity when exposed to light. As a result of that singular discovery and subsequent technological breakthroughs many homes, businesses and public facilities throughout the world today enjoy electricity generated from the sun!

Modern applications for solar power technologies are fast becoming limitless as technological research and development continue to break performance records and drive the discovery of more efficient and cost effective methods of tapping the sun’s free energy.

I have been actively involved in the new and renewable energy industry for over seven years and have come to the conclusion that solar power provides one of the key practical solutions to the persistent global energy crisis faced by millions of people both in developed and developing nations. Well more than 500,000 families in Africa, more than a million homes in Europe and millions of families in Asia and America too can testify to this.

One of the most commonly asked questions I am faced with is “how efficient is solar power?” And usually, my answer is the same—“Efficient enough to make a difference in our world today!”

The efficiency of a solar panel is derived by calculating the percentage of sunlight that a panel converts to electricity. Many solar panels today convert about 20 percent of the sun’s energy into electricity—this in itself is a feat. In 1990, the highest efficiency of solar cells was less than 10 percent.

Broadly speaking, solar power technology is a very simple concept. I’ll attempt to explain how it works in three sentences- Solar power is generated when a solar panel is exposed to sunlight. The generated electricity can either be utilized instantly or stored in batteries for use later at night (when there’s no sunlight). Since solar energy is a renewable source of energy, solar power is inexhaustible, environmentally friendly and clean (no air or noise pollution).

Till date, 271 GW (271,000 MW) of solar power has been installed worldwide according to GlobalData Plc. This equates to more than 20 times the current total generation capacity of all Nigeria’s electricity generation plants (including its hydro dams, thermal power stations and commissioned Independent Power Projects (IPPs). Most of the world’s solar installations are roof mounted solutions and ground mounted solar farms which provide decentralized access to power for millions around the world.

With more than 45 percent of Nigeria’s population not connected to the national grid and millions of households and businesses facing persistent black outs of at least 3,000 hours yearly, there’s a real opportunity for Nigeria and Nigerians to tap into solar power as an efficient power solution to reduce the country’s electricity supply deficit.

The good news is that there has been a conspicuous surfacing of an emerging solar market in Nigeria in the last couple of years. This is a positive development—not only because of the obvious benefit of reliable electricity and the thousands of jobs that have been created but also because there has been a subtle paradigm shift from the conventional fossil fuel powered generators to a more sustainable and cleaner alternative power source.

Access to electricity is very crucial in our ever dynamic and increasingly competitive world. It is a prerequisite for meaningful economic growth. Without power, there is no development.

Times have changed.

As published on Renewable Energy World Magazine http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/ugc/articles/2016/12/02/how-efficient-are-solar-electricity-power-systems.html

Solar energy is too expensive o jare

Who read that epistle?

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who read the above essay should plz summarise in three sentences


Thanks in advance

..

I didn't read it tho..

But for a Tropical country like Nigeria,
Solar energy will be very efficient.


Places like Finland, which doesn't even receive half amount of the Sunlight we receive here is widely using Solar energy.. So imagine

hahn:
Solar energy is too expensive o jare

Who read that epistle?

though I don't use it now but I believe it's worth it.

hmm

It's the initial cost and it's more expensive than generators.

Ok... but the face cap version will be preferable down here. Not the head cutting blade below

Whayo whayo

Wait let me ask Mr. Fashola.

Solar electricity is a very good clean energy.But my worries is the high cost of all the processes from procurement,installation and maintenance.Many people can not afford it...why? we are still importing the components,there are very few solar companies who can make affordable provision and thirdly we havent fully embraced the technology of solar.
Secondly we have a very weak government that doesnt look into the future.There is a solar company owned by a woman in kaduna through to out sketch of abuja.She supplies energy as pay as-you-go.She has successfully established a good business for petty traders who need light for their business.Currently she is under huge threat by some silly government policies.

In my opinion we hurriedly jumped into solar energy without counting the cost.How many research engineers do we have in solar? Do we have a place to train engineers and specialists? Do we have a sustained maintenance culture?
I know a couple of homes and businesses that use solar,trust me they are seeing hell....issues upon issues which they didnt have any slight understanding of.
Nigeria has the weather to make it work,but what about the cost?
For now we are trying to get our feet down,but if we plan towards it i think solar electricity is a huge alternative power supply that can compete with hydro and gas generation.

Its possible to get a portable one @ affordable price instead of epileptic power that we have in Nigeria!

Everyone should be careful during this festive
season,I don't usually share this kind of stories
but this happened before my eyes
Yesterday at about 3pm my Neighbour called an
aboki (shoemaker) to fix her slippers,she allowed
him stay in the compound while she went back
inside to continue with what she was doing ,while
he was fixing her slippers,he added something
inside before stitching it but unfortunately for him
the landlord was upstairs watching the aboki
without the aboki's knowledge....when he was
done he called her to come take her slippers that
he had finished stitching it,she came out of her
apartment and the aboki asked her to wear it
,immediately our landlord screamed from upstairs
"don't put your leg in that slippers.
He rushed down and demanded that the aboki
should wear the slippers first but the aboki
refused ,one thing led to other and the whole
compound was alerted including myself.
We literally had to use force for him to wear the
slippers and immediately he placed his leg my
friend guess what.......
The slippers just cut because the aboki no sew
am well
Have a lovely festive period

What is this?

Would have made an Honorary 3rd class if I could read this long epistle back in the days

I doubt if any of us on the first page have read through that article.

Solar system too expensive joor

I am here to learn.

hahn:
Solar energy is too expensive o jare

Who read that epistle?

It maybe expensive, but it's worth the cost at the long run especially in Nigeria, considering the cost of fuel now. I use and inverter at home and with the little light plan bring, it gets charged and am happy at the long run I was not happy with the cost too at the long run, but now it worth the cost, unless the light spoilt or phone didn't bring light, I hardly on my gen, I can remember a gen that works everyday before now works maybe once or two like in four months.

The summary be say solar dey work. QED. Look into it if you dey interested.

It's better than Fashola's nepa

canalily:
Whayo whayo

Illiterate.

veekid:

---

who read the above essay should plz summarise in three sentences


Thanks in advance

solar power is easily available, tap into it especially with poor power supply in the country.

Well I have a neighbour that has been running solar since Feb 2016 with no issues. He spent almost N1.5M and tries not to overload it.

But I wonder all those solar street light, they don't last more than a few months.

I know one solar shop in Ikeja, there is never light in the shop, I wonder what their selling point is.

Nice write up , a strong point for use of solar power. It has largely remained an untapped and readily available source of power in Nigeria. Come to the north and you would find sufficient land for enough panels to power the north. Add that to 9months of intense sunlight, and we are well on our way to solving our power needs.
However for home panels, there are some limitations :
> cost of installation
> It barely would power my pressing iron or electric cooker, why then would I spend soo much to install solar panels if I still have to be connected to the grid for some heavy appliances?
> During the peak of the rains or harmattan, I would still need to switch to the grid or run my generating set.

june20:


It maybe expensive, but it's worth the cost at the long run especially in Nigeria, considering the cost of fuel now. I use and inverter at home and with the little light plan bring, it gets charged and am happy at the long run I was not happy with the cost too at the long run, but now it worth the cost, unless the light spoilt or phone didn't bring light, I hardly on my gen, I can remember a gen that works everyday before now works maybe once or two like in four months.

In the long run ? the thing no dey last abeg, and the parts are expensive sef.

hahn:
Solar energy is too expensive o jare

Who read that epistle?

Yeah, but when you finally buy a system, the relief is awesome.

hi