Nigeria is the ideal place for solar energy since it has enough sunshine all year round. However, there are still many disadvantages of solar energy. According to analysts, the country’s use of it is still relatively low due to a lack of financing, an unsuitable regulatory environment, and a substandard transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Ademola Adesina, the CEO of Rensource Energy, a Nigerian solar company. He made a comment on the difficulty of accessing finance for solar projects in Nigeria. He has noted that banks are often reluctant to lend to solar companies and that this makes it difficult to scale up solar projects. Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Electricity, Works, and Housing, also referred to the necessity for adequate regulation of the solar business. To prevent the importation of defective and dangerous solar equipment. In 2018, he emphasised the problem of Nigeria’s few financial choices for renewable energy projects. He said that the price of solar panels was still too high for the majority of Nigerians. He stated that a lack of funding is to blame for the difficulties in adopting solar electricity in isolated and rural locations.
In 2020, at the National Solar Energy Forum (NASEF), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, said that the growth of solar energy in Nigeria faced considerable obstacles due to a lack of infrastructure, such as grid access. In a similar vein, according to Dr Akindele, the majority of solar goods in Nigeria are of low quality and don’t last very long, which has deterred many individuals from making investments in solar energy. “The absence of suitable infrastructure makes it difficult for solar energy firms to install and manage their systems. This hampers their profitability.” Mr Segun Adaju, the Nigerian Renewable Energy Association’s president, makes this assertion.
Thus, in an interview with Guardian Nigeria in 2020, Prof. Eli Jidere Bala, Director-General of the Nigerian Energy Commission. He noted that the lack of political will and commitment to the development of renewable energy was a big concern in Nigeria. Together with the issue of insufficient technical skills and capability in the solar business. He also mentioned the lack of legislation and incentives that would boost renewable energy projects.
Also see: The Advantages of Solar Energy in Nigeria
Ifeanyi Orajaka, who is the CEO of Green Village Electricity Projects Ltd. He made a highlight on the lack of skilled personnel as a major problem for solar energy in Nigeria. Ifeanyi also noted that there is a shortage of trained technicians. People who can install and maintain solar systems, and that this is hindering the growth of the industry. Segun Adaju further stated that the public knowledge of solar energy and its advantages is still poor. So, many people still think that solar energy is just for the privileged.”
Also, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) stated in a report. Which says that backup power sources are necessary since solar energy isn’t so reliable due to its unpredictability. While solar energy is a potential alternative for Nigeria. Prof. Wumi Iledare of the Nigerian Tribune stated that “the fundamental difficulty for solar power is its intermittency, which makes it less reliable as a source of energy”. Moreover, the authors of a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). They state that “Variability in solar PV output presents a challenge to system operators. As they must balance the erratic nature of solar energy with that of other sources of power to maintain a reliable and stable electricity supply.”
Furthermore, Oluwole Daniel Adeuyi, a renewable energy specialist, stated in an interview with Off Grid Nigeria. He said that “Maintenance is a huge issue with solar energy installations in Nigeria.” Also, he contends that elements like dust, and temperatures results in solar panels less performance over time. The authors of a report by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group also has a statement about the disadvantages of solar energy. They mentioned that the lack of qualified workers for solar power initiative maintenance is a major challenge in Nigeria. Additionally, fixing problems solar energy system components can become more challenging as a result.
More so, in a report by Yusuf Akinpelu on Premium Times. Yusuf said, “In Nigeria, maintaining solar energy systems requires a significant time and financial expenditure.” Akinpelu emphasised the importance of routine maintenance to maintain solar panels operating at their peak efficiency. However, he also recognised the difficulty this would provide in a nation with little infrastructure and resources. So, this may poise as one of the disadvantages of solar energy in Nigeria.
The ex-CEO of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi, also mentioned the country’s expensive solar energy systems as an issue. She stated, “We need to reduce the cost of solar down to a level where people can afford it. Innovative financing techniques that let customers pay overtime are necessary.” This is what Fizzle Power Tech aims at providing; a budget-friendly solar innovation technology.
In Business Day Nigeria, Stephen Onyekwelu also said that adopting solar energy technology is challenging due to the high cost of these systems. We must figure out how to lower the cost of solar energy”. Hence, with this, there will be no disadvantages of solar energy in Nigeria.
According to Dr Abubakar Sambo, the head of the World Energy Council’s Nigerian National Committee. Land usage is one of the main obstacles to the implementation of large-scale solar projects in Nigeria. This is because of the fact that huge solar facilities need substantial amounts of land. This can be challenging to acquire in many regions of the nation. According to Sambo, the country’s energy industry face difficulties as a result of uneven policy development.
Sam Amadi, who is a former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. He commented on the lack of a clear policy framework for solar energy in Nigeria. Furthermore, he cited this as one of the disadvantages of solar energy in Nigeria. He has called the government to provide incentives for solar projects and to streamline the regulatory process. As Land tenure difficulties, especially conflicting land uses, might represent substantial hurdles for the implementation of utility-scale solar systems in Nigeria. This is likely to be one of the disadvantages of solar energy or systems in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Generally, there are several concerns with solar energy in Nigeria. Including high costs, a lack of infrastructure, poor financing alternatives, technical incapacity, and a lack of proper regulations. This is why, we at Fizzle Power Tech, as a solar energy innovator and distributor made innovations to overcome these issues. Most importantly to come up with solutions that will allow solar energy to reach its full potential. As well as to tackle the supposed disadvantages of solar energy in Nigeria.
