What is Solar Panel Installation?
The cost of solar panel installation in 2024 depends on the number of solar panels installed. Due to the epileptic supply of power in Nigeria, many Nigerians are accustomed to using power generators because the idea of solar panel installation is not as common. Solar panels convert sunlight into electric current. This electricity is then stored in batteries to be used later. The process of solar panel installation involves fixing the panels in a place where they can easily receive sunlight. This is usually the roof of the building.
Solar panels have become a more convenient source of electricity for Nigerians. The sunlight doesn’t have to be paid for and the weather condition in Nigeria is also favorable. The cost of solar panel installation is ₦100,000 – ₦350,000 in Nigeria. This can run into millions of naira if you want the solar panel installer to buy all the needed materials and install them for you. You should consider this before deciding to invest in solar panels.
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What Size of Solar Panel System Do You Need?
This depends largely on the load you want the solar panels to carry. You might just want them to carry the basic day-to-day stuff rather than having to carry every appliance in the building. The average home uses 200 kW per month, or around 2,500 kW per year, in electricity. The average size home with a decent amount of sunshine could install a 100kW to 200kW solar panel system to help reduce your electricity bill. You may want to learn about your sun number score for solar based on your home’s location and average sunlight exposure.
With solar panels, the money you save on your electricity bills can more than earn back your initial installation costs in 7 to 20 years. This proves that solar energy is a good investment, especially with the very expensive rate of electricity in Nigeria. This might be more reason to invest in a solar panel distribution that powers the whole building.
Prices of Solar Panels in Nigeria 2024
The price of solar panels in Nigeria depends on the crystalline structure and rating. The higher the rating is the higher you would have to pay. The rating is the number of watts and voltage the solar panel can deliver. There would be a list of the different solar panel sizes and their prices below. This allows you to determine the total cost of installation if you allow the solar panel installer to take care of everything.
| Rating | Prices |
|---|---|
| Polycrystalline 140W Solar Panel | ₦33000 |
| Polycrystalline 130W Solar Panel | ₦35,000 |
| Polycrystalline 100W Solar Panel | ₦30,000 – ₦55,500 |
| Polycrystalline 80W Solar Panel | ₦22,000 |
| Polycrystalline 60W Solar Panel | ₦15,500 |
| Polycrystalline 50W Solar Panel | ₦20,000 – ₦45,000 |
| Polycrystalline 40 Watts Solar Panel | ₦15,500 |
| Polycrystalline 30W Solar Panel | ₦12,000 |
| Polycrystalline 20W Solar Panel | ₦12,500 – ₦20,000 |
| Polycrystalline 15W Solar Panel | ₦12,000 |
| Polycrystalline 10W Solar Panel | ₦12,000 – ₦20,500 |
| Mono Crystalline 130W Solar Panel | ₦25,000 |
| Mono Crystalline 2 x 100W Solar Panel | ₦40,000 |
| Mono Crystalline 2 x 80W Solar Panel | ₦30,000 |
Note: Monocrystalline solar panels are highly efficient and have a sleek design, but come at a higher price point than other solar panels. Polycrystalline solar panels are cheaper than monocrystalline panels, however, they are less efficient and aren’t as aesthetically pleasing. Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline options, but their advantage is a lower price point. As a result, polycrystalline solar panels have lower efficiency ratings than monocrystalline panels.
Additional Solar Panel System Costs
There are a few things you will want to add to your solar system’s total cost to get the most accurate price estimate. Here are a few additional factors that will impact how much your solar panels will cost:
- Labor costs: Local labor costs for solar installation will change depending on your area and the average cost the solar installers charge in your area. This means rural areas might have more labor cost due to a reduction in the number of available solar panel installers
- Installing solar mounts: The costs to install the racks that hold your residential solar panels will affect the cost as well. This can be avoided or reduced if solar panels are installed on the roof.
- Other costs: There may also be costs for any local permit fees, inspection fees, and taxes on the solar panels. For example, you will need a permit from the NERC in Nigeria to install solar panels. Consulting a solar panel installer makes this process very easy
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed For an Average Home?
To know how many solar panels you will need, you should first determine how much electricity you use in your home and the solar panel types you want to be installed. The average house in Nigeria uses about 200 kilowatt hours (kWh) a month and roughly 2,500 kWh a year. You can calculate your electricity usage by checking how much electricity you buy monthly if you have a prepaid meter. If your meter is postpaid, just check what it reads at the beginning of the month, and at the end, get the difference and convert it to kilowatt hours.
How Does Sunlight Amount Affect Solar Panels?
Different areas of Nigeria receive more or less sunlight compared to other areas. The amount of sunlight you receive directly correlates with how many solar panels you will need. Nigeria is generally a very good country for solar energy but some states receive more radiation than others.
Your location would affect the total cost of solar panel installation, this is because of the difference in radiation across the locations. Typically, northern states get more solar radiation than southern states. Yobe is the state with the highest radiation energy in Nigeria. This also includes neighboring states like Adamawa, Bauchi, and Borno. These states would use fewer solar panels to produce the same amount of electricity produced in the south. Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Delta, etc. are all in the midrange and also work well with solar panels. While Port-Harcourt, Owerri, and Ibadan would need slightly more solar panels to produce the same amount of energy.
Remember, the sun may be shining, but if it is behind a cloud, you’re not getting the same amount of solar energy absorbed by your solar PV system. This is why you can always check the radiation map of Nigeria to know how much radiation your location gets.
Benefits of Solar Panel installation
- Constant electricity: With a solar system properly installed, you can have constant electricity. You don’t have to wait for PHCN to do the things you need electricity for.
- Little or No maintenance: You don’t have to do anything for solar panels for years apart from cleaning the surface. Also, cleaning the surface is when you remember. It is set in a way that you don’t have to worry about anything after.
- Clean source of energy: There is no form of pollution from the solar panel system.
- Lasts long: They last for 25-30 years. This doesn’t mean they stop working after that, it just means that the amount of energy they produce would have dropped by a significant amount.
- Saves a lot of Money: It indeed costs a lot to install solar systems in your home or your desired building. After that, you won’t have to spend a dime for many years as you use it. This is not true for any other source of energy.
