ayox2003:

First off, a segmented class exist in Nigeria: the poor (more than 50%), the middle class, and the rich (less than 10%).

Nigerians need 60,000MW yet we generate 4,500Mw. People need electricity and they would go to any length to get it at the cheapest price. For the poor, they would rather buy a small, less than $100 = N16,000 generator that they'd be able to fuel with $2 = N320 and would meet their energy needs because they stay small rooms. The middle class could buy a $600 = N95,000 generator that he would fuel with $40 = N6,500 per week. The rich spend much more.

Cheap is the nigerian slogan. Chinese products thrive in Nigeria because they are cheap. The one-off payment that might last longer and save more doesn't really matter to nigerians. Once they can afford a product at any time, even if it would later cost them more than buying an expensive product that would last longer and perform better, they don't mind buying it over and over again.

Solar pays on the long run but the one-time payment for installation is not cheap for the poor and some middle class. Hence, generators are preferred.


Frawzey

ciphoenix:

couldn't have said it better

NLG_woodey:


[b]Obviously, you are just a salesman. I can give you links to various websites such as Multi-Level Marketing firms that use graphs and data to project how much profit therein the business. Anyone can post anything online, which is why citing websites in projects are avoided and/or frowned at in researches.

Like a call center operator, you keep reading off your script without in depth knowledge of the technology you are marketing. Expert or no expert, I am engaging you here with a common sense. It is very expensive to instal a solar system that can power a whole house. If you have pictures of solar projects that you did, simply present it with the attendant cost analysis instead of embellishing plagiarized data.

You remind me of graduate students and their thesis with no real life experience. They just cram and quote numbers based
on other people's studies. Someone threw a challenge here---run a sample solar system in a house of your choice and
come back one year with the result.

I can bet that you don't have solar system in your house. Do you? If yes, show us pictures. If No, why not? Let me tell you your story. A solar production company invited you to a conference in a fancy hotel. They did their presentation or so-called training. They ran numbers by you and told you that they are listed on NYSE. Also, they had the financial backing of Banks X,Y,Z. Wow! What a nice opportunity...Nigerians here you come. LOL.

One thing I respect about Nigerians is that they are highly resourceful. You throw out any abracadabra like you just did, they will come back slinging. Got my drift?

I don't want to rain on your parade. You still need more marketing training with your parent company to really pull this off. People will ask questions. Good luck[/b]

Barcs:

You can believe that the earth is flat all you want. It doesn't make it true.

You are going to look very foolish in the coming months.

ayox2003:

First off, a segmented class exist in Nigeria: the poor (more than 50%), the middle class, and the rich (less than 10%).

Nigerians need 60,000MW yet we generate 4,500Mw. People need electricity and they would go to any length to get it at the cheapest price. For the poor, they would rather buy a small, less than $100 = N16,000 generator that they'd be able to fuel with $2 = N320 and would meet their energy needs because they stay small rooms. The middle class could buy a $600 = N95,000 generator that he would fuel with $40 = N6,500 per week. The rich spend much more.

Cheap is the nigerian slogan. Chinese products thrive in Nigeria because they are cheap. The one-off payment that might last longer and save more doesn't really matter to nigerians. Once they can afford a product at any time, even if it would later cost them more than buying an expensive product that would last longer and perform better, they don't mind buying it over and over again.

Solar pays on the long run but the one-time payment for installation is not cheap for the poor and some middle class. Hence, generators are preferred.


Frawzey

sweet_gala:

Most eco friendly ideas in developed countries have an incentive, in U.K and Ireland there are grants and rebates on property/household tax etc, should be similar in most of E.U

I've been thinking with the vast expanse of otherwise useless land up north with almost 360 days of lashing sunshine.

ifebosco: we need to fiscalise our tax system in nigeria,and make it compossary that everybody above 21 most file their tax return every year.

NLG_woodey:


[b]Obviously, you are just a salesman. I can give you links to various websites such as Multi-Level Marketing firms that use graphs and data to project how much profit therein the business. Anyone can post anything online, which is why citing websites in projects are avoided and/or frowned at in researches.

Like a call center operator, you keep reading off your script without in depth knowledge of the technology you are marketing. Expert or no expert, I am engaging you here with a common sense. It is very expensive to instal a solar system that can power a whole house. If you have pictures of solar projects that you did, simply present it with the attendant cost analysis instead of embellishing plagiarized data.

You remind me of graduate students and their thesis with no real life experience. They just cram and quote numbers based
on other people's studies. Someone threw a challenge here---run a sample solar system in a house of your choice and
come back one year with the result.

I can bet that you don't have solar system in your house. Do you? If yes, show us pictures. If No, why not? Let me tell you your story. A solar production company invited you to a conference in a fancy hotel. They did their presentation or so-called training. They ran numbers by you and told you that they are listed on NYSE. Also, they had the financial backing of Banks X,Y,Z. Wow! What a nice opportunity...Nigerians here you come. LOL.

One thing I respect about Nigerians is that they are highly resourceful. You throw out any abracadabra like you just did, they will come back slinging. Got my drift?

I don't want to rain on your parade. You still need more marketing training with your parent company to really pull this off. People will ask questions. Good luck[/b]

mrjingles: Very interesting thread, one of the best in recent times. First off I am no expert on kilowatt and panels and all the technical stuff but I do understand finance. I think all the guyz asking for "proof" of the OPs numbers are really trying to prove academic points, it reminds of the age old battle between academics and investors, academics will say "you cant beat the markets, the research proves it" the successful traders don't respond with numbers they only smile and say "that's why you will remain academics"

I do not really expect any serious business man to reveal how he manages to reduce costs significantly to gain an edge on the competition so asking him to produce proof is a non starter. If the claims that Barclays bank is backing this project is true then my brothers the questions you are posing here are child's play compared to what this guy must have faced because those banks along with their co-investors would have torn the business plan apart and ALL technical and financial details MUST add up or else he would be laughed out of the room, if you guys who have NOTHING at stake are asking this much imagine what people who have their behinds on the line would have asked.

If you guys want to have all the details just call him up and propose a LARGE investment and you will get the full business plan with all the technical and financial details to last you a month of sundays (of course you will sign an ND agreement)

To the op I say CARRY ON, no idea deserves to succeed except it is at first laughed at. wish you all the best, to the naysayers I say only time will tell so make una siddon look.

AjanleKoko:

Okay.
The government in Lagos had at one time installed solar lighting for the streets and major highways all over Lagos, between 2007 and 2008. I even know the company who was working on this, Stormberg Engineering.
The lighting have all failed, and many of them are now being replaced by regular street lighting, powered by generators. Care to explain why this has happened? After all, it is 'basic technology used all over the world'.

Also, someone has explained to you the cost sensitivity of most Nigerian households. I think it would require some level of R and D to produce solar installations that would be efficient, durable, as well as pocket friendly. For example, Hyundai and Haier have been marketing 10kva petrol generators that are selling for under N120,000 in Nigeria. Don't you think some R and D on the part of the Chinese was required to come up with these products, considering that most of the Japanese alternatives do not have a rated output of up to 6kva, and costs three times as much as the Chinese products?

Maybe the challenge is with my use of the phrase 'R and D'. I'm a product person, and to me, R and D is needed to introduce any product into any market. You won't bring solar panels into Nigeria from Australia and expect them to be an instant success. Though I suspect you already know this, and are using this thread to drum up interest in your product

manny4life:

No one is trying to play "academics" here, but simply asking realistic questions. After all, academic concepts in finance do not change, no one asked for his business plan or strategies, according to the OP, his target market will definitely be the middle/upper class who will ask him the same question.

If you cannot convince your audience, whether Barclays is providing financing or not, that will be the defining moment for success and failure. Besides, he said (at least what I read) that Barclays through ecobank will be providing the financing for the consumer.

The consumer pays installment payments to them (whatever the arrangement is). After all, the solar company that collapsed after Obama injected $500million was a sound start-up with prospects but they FAILED. There are many companies that failed and while a few succeeded with govt grants.

GeneralJ:

Sorry to say but you are kind of stupid ohh, so all the houses in lekki VGC GRA V.I Ikoyi, Abuja and all the other states equals less than 10% of Nigerians, the rich/middle clas of Nigeria is actually at about 30 -40% believe it or not

mrjingles:

My brother lets be realistic which average banker will ask about discount rate, efficiency ratios and all the other things that have been thrown around? The question they will ask is simple DOES IT WORK? I'm not the man selling the product, he's the only one who can answer that but to say they wil ask the same questions you are asking isn't true for a very large segment of customers. The major obstacle is the general skepticism about solar power.

Barcs:
www.urecruitme.co.uk
www.urecruitme.com

On the .com site, scroll to the bottom of the Home Page, and there you will see a Video link to an interview with me on NBC news in Atlanta Georgia, discussing my business when I first launched there. Actions speak louder than words - I'm a man of action, and not a keyboard warrior. You will see the product of my actions very soon....bla bla bla bla ...
Oh, and by the way, we have just launched our website. Feel free to visit it, and then tell me whether you think I'm a Marketer, or a businessman of substance, with a very credible plan to solving Nigeria's energy Crisis. You will hear more of Solynta Energy, of that I promise you. www.solynta.com.ng
Regards
Uvie

mrjingles: Very interesting thread, one of the best in recent times. First off I am no expert on kilowatt and panels and all the technical stuff but I do understand finance. I think all the guyz asking for "proof" of the OPs numbers are really trying to prove academic points, it reminds of the age old battle between academics and investors, academics will say "you cant beat the markets, the research proves it" the successful traders don't respond with numbers they only smile and say "that's why you will remain academics"

I do not really expect any serious business man to reveal how he manages to reduce costs significantly to gain an edge on the competition so asking him to produce proof is a non starter. If the claims that Barclays bank is backing this project is true then my brothers the questions you are posing here are child's play compared to what this guy must have faced because those banks along with their co-investors would have torn the business plan apart and ALL technical and financial details MUST add up or else he would be laughed out of the room, if you guys who have NOTHING at stake are asking this much imagine what people who have their behinds on the line would have asked.

If you guys want to have all the details just call him up and propose a LARGE investment and you will get the full business plan with all the technical and financial details to last you a month of sundays (of course you will sign an ND agreement)

To the op I say CARRY ON, no idea deserves to succeed except it is at first laughed at. wish you all the best, to the naysayers I say only time will tell so make una siddon look.

NLG_woodey:


Wheeeewww...all these grammar just to sell one solar panel.
Ol' boy you go talk tire for naija.


You sure do need your temper checked.
Send across your email address and I will send to you a list of solar system marketers in Abuja.
One of them used to work for the WOrld Bank and has an office in Maitama close to Transcorp Hilton.
He will educate you more and possibly guide you as you venture into Nigeria with your unique
dream project.

By the way, I like your very professional looking website.

Once more, Good luck. We need more Dangotes Uvies. Kudos


.

GeneralJ:

Sorry to say but you are kind of stupid ohh, so all the houses in lekki VGC GRA V.I Ikoyi, Abuja and all the other states equals less than 10% of Nigerians, the rich/middle clas of Nigeria is actually at about 30 -40% believe it or not

mrjingles:

My brother lets be realistic which average banker will ask about discount rate, efficiency ratios and all the other things that have been thrown around? The question they will ask is simple DOES IT WORK? I'm not the man selling the product, he's the only one who can answer that but to say they wil ask the same questions you are asking isn't true for a very large segment of customers. The major obstacle is the general skepticism about solar power. As for solyndra issue I will do a simple analogy, Lehman brothers failed, does that make investment banking a bad business? Enron collapsed, does that make the energy business a lousy business, Fisker is in meltdown so electric car is a dead business?
As the academics would say, the collapse of one company is not statistically significant to draw conclusions.

mrjingles:

My brother lets be realistic which average banker will ask about discount rate, efficiency ratios and all the other things that have been thrown around? The question they will ask is simple DOES IT WORK? I'm not the man selling the product, he's the only one who can answer that but to say they wil ask the same questions you are asking isn't true for a very large segment of customers. The major obstacle is the general skepticism about solar power. As for solyndra issue I will do a simple analogy, Lehman brothers failed, does that make investment banking a bad business? Enron collapsed, does that make the energy business a lousy business, Fisker is in meltdown so electric car is a dead business?
As the academics would say, the collapse of one company is not statistically significant to draw conclusions.

manny4life: @Barcholder,

Why don't you throw open your own calculation?

I really want to see how you arrived at your own calculation given a 17% capacity factor less low interest rate you assumed in financing.

Please post something similar, not necessarily in Excel sheet (though it will help), but something very basic will suffice.

Beaf!:
@poster

I have a 5KVA inverter with 200x4AH deep-circle batteries, six solar charging panels. I enjoy lights, TVs, fans etc for as long as possible. But I wouldnt dare connect my ACs, Refrigerators, Electric kettles, irons etc.

I cant afford to install a higher capacity inverter.

Tell me, how can I write off PHCN?

Afolabs101:

I'm in the same boat but with a 1kva inverter.

The Op is not being completely truthful. No house with incendiary devices such as kettles and boilers and other equipment such as deep freezers, ovens, microwaves, AC's etc can go completely energy independent. You would not have enough space for all the solar panels. These panels take up a lot of space, so if you need a lot of electricity, you better live on a farm.

Majority of the middle class live in rented homes in the urban areas, try telling your average landlord that you're gonna be putting solar panels on his roof

Solar is good for back up but is not yet at the level where it can be used exclusively. And I don't like you're condescending tone as if Nigerians are not smart enough to embrace solar. When it becomes cheaper and more effective we will. For example, most street lights on Lagos streets and in Lagos estates use solar powered lights, because it makes sense.

Afolabs101:

I'm in the same boat but with a 1kva inverter.

The Op is not being completely truthful. No house with incendiary devices such as kettles and boilers and other equipment such as deep freezers, ovens, microwaves, AC's etc can go completely energy independent. You would not have enough space for all the solar panels. These panels take up a lot of space, so if you need a lot of electricity, you better live on a farm.

Majority of the middle class live in rented homes in the urban areas, try telling your average landlord that you're gonna be putting solar panels on his roof

Solar is good for back up but is not yet at the level where it can be used exclusively. And I don't like you're condescending tone as if Nigerians are not smart enough to embrace solar. When it becomes cheaper and more effective we will. For example, most street lights on Lagos streets and in Lagos estates use solar powered lights, because it makes sense.

tbaba1234: Disadvantages

i. Solar energy generally raises the price of electricity when it is on the grid...

ii. It is not yet competitive in most markets, it is improving but it is not there yet....

iii. Areas with plenty sun and little heat are best for it.... Nigeria's heat intensity does not exactly favour it. Heat degrades the system faster.

iv. Inefficient and intermittent

v. Expensive

vi. Can only be used where there is little obstruction to sunlight.

vii. It is difficult to make returns on investment without government incentives

Advantages:

i. It is clean energy

ii. Very small maintenance cost

iii. create jobs...

iv. You can possibly make a return on investment