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Power problems: Could solar solve Nigeria’s electricity woes?

Power problems: Could solar solve Nigeria’s electricity woes?

Hungry for energy, millions of Nigerians put up with noisy, smoky petrol-fuelled generators to power their lives. Could solar technology help?

An estimated 22 million small-unit generators are in use by Nigerians, and they plug a vital gap in a country that ranks 171 out of 190 nations in terms of access to electricity, according to the World Bank [File: Sunday Alamba/AP Photo]
An estimated 22 million small-unit generators are in use by Nigerians, and they plug a vital gap in a country that ranks 171 out of 190 nations in terms of access to electricity, according to the World Bank [File: Sunday Alamba/AP Photo]

Ilorin, Nigeria – On a recent Monday morning, Mathew Bello, popularly known as Matey, switched on the generator that powers his shop in the capital of Kwara State at exactly 9:28am. It sputtered for a second before roaring to life, coughing up clouds of grey smoke in the process.

Inside Bello’s multipurpose shop are places to watch television, play video games, get a haircut and fix a mobile phone. As David, Bello’s apprentice, transferred the shop’s fuse box from the utility grid — which was currently experiencing a blackout — over to the generator, the TVs lit up and hair clippers buzzed to life.

Bello set up the DSTV and PlayStation consoles and potential customers jostled for spots to charge their phones. The whine from the generator fluctuated as it balanced customers’ hunger for energy with the limits of its output.

On that day, Bello’s generator did not go off until 12am, after 14 hours and 32 minutes of non-stop work.

“Sometimes there’s NEPA light,” Bello told Al Jazeera, referring to power from the city’s electrical grid, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. “But it’s low current,” he said – and not enough to meet the power demands of his shop.

A petrol-powered generator sits outside a home in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, where people rely on the noisy machines to power their everyday lives [Olatunji Olaigbe/Al Jazeera]

Bello’s generator consumes between 17 and 27 litres of petrol each day, he said, which costs him between 2,500 naira ($6.08) and 4,000 naira ($9.72) by the country’s official exchange rate. Then there is an additional 1,500 nairas ($3.65) per week to gauge and change the generator’s oil. A mechanic comes for maintenance and repairs three times a month, costing at least 1,000 nairas per visit ($2.43) in addition to the cost of any spare parts.

All told, Bello’s monthly spending for his generator averages around 100,000 naira ($243.01) to 130,000 ($315.92). But his monthly earnings amount to 170,000 naira ($413.12) at most, and he is able to buy less each month as the prices of fuel, food and other daily necessities skyrocket.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria is dealing with its worst levels of inflation in four years. Bello is concerned that passing on increased costs to his customers would cause him to simply lose business.

Haircuts, video games and TV time are not considered necessities, meaning people will likely stop patronising his shop if he charges more. His story is just one example of the economic and human cost of Nigeria’s electricity woes.

Hungry for power

An estimated 22 million small-unit generators are in use by Nigerians like Bello, and they plug a vital gap in a country that ranks 171 out of 190 nations in terms of access to electricity, according to the World Bank.

Nigeria’s grid has an installed capacity of roughly 12,522 megawatts, but due to poor infrastructure, it is only able to deliver around 4,000 megawatts most days, according to the US Agency for International Development.

As of February, 43 percent of Nigerians still had no access to on-grid electricity, according to the World Bank, and Nigeria loses $26.2bn annually (the equivalent of two percent of its gross domestic product) due to the lack of reliable electricity.

Along with the financial cost of petrol-powered generators are the noise and pollution they generate [File: Sunday Alamba/AP Photo]

To bridge the gap between supply and demand, Nigerians are forced to generate power in small units from off-grid sources, usually fossil fuel-powered generators.

Along with the financial cost of generators are health and environmental costs. Two out of three generator users in Nigeria complained of hearing impairment, according to data cited in a 2019 report (PDF) by the Access to Energy Institute (A2EI), a non-profit research and development institute working to advance the use of solar energy in developing countries.

“The noise is delirious,” Quadri Oladayo, a student who uses his own generator to read and work as a freelance photographer, told Al Jazeera. “Every time a nearby generator goes off, it’s like a part of your soul you never knew was missing returns.”

Most Nigerians are aware of more health and environmentally friendly options such as solar energy, but cost, quality and lack of expertise make implementing them difficult. That is why more investment in solar energy is needed, said Segun Adaju, the president of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria.

“If $2bn is invested in the solar energy sector, most businesses can run comfortably on 8 to 12 hours of energy provision daily,” Adaju told Al Jazeera, adding that such an investment would also provide “room for industrial growth and confidence in the investor market”.

Solar potential

Nigeria gets between five to seven hours of sunlight daily, depending on the region. A 2019 report (PDF) by the director-general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria estimated that if one percent of Nigeria’s land area were to be covered with a solar technology of five percent efficiency, about 333,480 megawatts of electricity could be generated, which is “more than enough for the country”.

Experts believe that solar power in Nigeria is currently underutilised.

For example, Nigerians are likely to own a solar-powered torchlight, solar-powered fan and perhaps solar-powered refrigerator, but each comes with its own solar plate and energy generation unit, rather than plugging into a single solar generator capable of powering an entire house and every appliance.

A solar generator with the capacity to power all of those devices is barely available on the market and inaccessible to the majority of low- and middle-class Nigerians. A high-capacity solar generator can cost well above 400,000 naira ($972.05). By comparison, the monthly minimum wage in Nigeria is 30,000 ($72.90) naira. And even when Nigerians can afford them, there is still a dire lack of expertise to help people maintain solar-powered generators.

Cost remains a major barrier for Nigerians who want to switch from petrol-powered generators like this one to solar-powered generators, which can cost more than 10 times the monthly minimum wage [Olatunji Olaigbe/Al Jazeera]

And for business owners who have higher energy demands, cost is a major deterrent. For his part, Bello said he has considered solar energy many times but has been dissuaded by the price as well as the potential output.

“I’ve never seen a solar power that can power five TVs and three clippers,” he said.

Thomas Duveau, the chief strategy officer at A2EI, said the current petrol-powered generators are favoured by people because “they serve that energy demand”, and “they do it quickly and in the cheapest way possible – at least in the short term”.

But A2EI is hoping to help Nigerians make the move to solar, and has been working on the project since 2016.

To get a grasp on people’s energy needs, the group installed smart monitors on 300 petrol-powered generators in Wuse market in Abuja so they could monitor metrics such as energy output, fuel consumption, how long each generator worked and even the frequency of faults.

“We then used this information to construct our solar generators, making sure they can outperform the fossil-fuel generators,” Duveau told Al Jazeera.

But matching petrol generators’ output has only been part of the challenge.

“Our biggest hurdle has always been finance,” Duveau said.

Financial challenges

In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, A2EI shipped about 200 solar generators to Nigeria, which were priced at $700 per unit.

The pandemic delayed customs processing on the generators, Duveau said, and impacted the economy more broadly. Last year passed without A2EI selling the solar generators.

By 2021, the value of Nigeria’s currency had fallen to 411 naira to the United States dollar, with the black market value well above that.

The solar generators still cost $700, but that is now 288,050 naira — 22,000 naira more than when they were first shipped.

To deal with this issue, A2EI said it partnered with Nigerian banks and other financial institutions to provide subsidies and credit to help Nigerians buy its solar-powered generators. Duveau said they have also approached the Nigerian government for support, but have been met with no concrete response.

Renewable energy investments

In December 2020, the Nigerian government launched the Solar Power Naija programme, an ambitious project targeted to provide solar electrification to 25 million Nigerians who were not previously connected to the grid.

The programme plans to provide five million new off-grid or mini-grid connections and “incentivise the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector”, according to its website.

However, since the programme’s inception, the Rural Electrification Agency — the agency in charge of the programme — has so far deployed 100,000 solar home systems.

As the push to get solar-powered generators up and running struggles to get off the ground, Bello’s petrol-powered machine keeps on going, belching out grey smoke and incessant noise — just like his neighbours’ — and sapping his earnings in the process.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
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Solar Power

Net Zero Homes, no electricity bills.

Good morning the subject today is Net Zero Homes / Zero Energy Homes.

What is a net zero home / zero energy home? The answer depends on who is answering.

The United States office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy defines it as “a zero energy building produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, thereby reducing the use of nonrenewable energy in the building sector”

Renewables are defines as Solar, Wind, Hydro and Biomass.

In Nigeria the most common source of renewable energy is solar.

Since 2016 we have been a Net zero facility. We have 2 inverters. A 5 kw grid tied inverter with 2250 watts in panels and a 5 kw smart hybrid battery inverter with 5840 watts. We have a 10 kwh lithium battery bank. No grid and no generator (we might change that in the future)

We run normal home appliances. A large refrigerator, a small freezer, a 1 hp. water pump, a microwave, an air fryer, a hot plate a 1.5 hp. window AC, and 1 hp. split AC, lights, fans, printers, lap top computers, Alexa devices, internet modem, TV, DSTV decoder. A normal home. The split unit, the fridge and freezer run 24 hours a day. The window AC runs during business hours M-F on sunny days.

What is your net zero home experience? Please share. If you like reading this story and would like to know more, please email me at info@atlanticwastepower.com

#solar #renewableenergy #solarenergy #netzerohomes #zeroenergy

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Solar Power

How do the Chinese Products compare


Before I give you my opinion, I will lift something out of an article I read.

The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in Chinese global shipments during 2020. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from China.

  1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$710.1 billion (27.4% of total exports)
  2. Machinery including computers: $440.3 billion (17%)
  3. Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings: $109.4 billion (4.2%)
  4. Plastics, plastic articles: $96.4 billion (3.7%)
  5. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $80.2 billion (3.1%)
  6. Vehicles: $76.3 billion (2.9%)
  7. Miscellaneous textiles, worn clothing: $75.6 billion (2.9%)
  8. Toys, games: $71.5 billion (2.8%)
  9. Articles of iron or steel: $71.1 billion (2.7%)
  10. Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $62.3 billion (2.4%)

China’s top 10 exports accounted for over two-thirds (69.2%) of the overall value of its global shipments.

From the numbers they must be doing something right. Exports to the United States and Europe were $420 and $375 billion in 2020.

What are my experiences? You can get the best from China and you can get absolute rubbish from China. They have everything for everyone. In the 70’s Japanese manufacturing was the butt of everyone’s joke. If you wanted cheap transistor radios, TV’s, LCD watches you got them from Japan. Today Japan has become synonymous with quality products.
The first set if inverters we installed were crap. 
First we did not understand them, 2nd they were poorly made. We tried again and we got some value for our money. What we purchased served the needs that we were aware of.

click on the link to read the full article

https://mailchi.mp/ef873d74b932/do-chinese-products-compare-well-to?e=9066152799

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Solar Energy News

SOLAX Inverter Review

https://www.cyanergy.com.au/solax-inverter-review/

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Solar Energy News

We are now the exclusive distributor for SOLAX Power in West Africa

 

SolaX X-ESS $G

July 1st, 2021 SOLAX Power signs distribution agreement with AWPS Renewable Energy, LTD for West Africa (minus Ghana)

AWPS Renewable Energy, LTD is proud to announce the conclusion of a multimillion dollar agreement between AWPS Renewable Energy, and SOLAX Power. SOLAX Power, is one of the worlds most successful hybrid inverter manufacturers and has finalized testing on its new range for the West African market.

Hybrid inverters will ultimately change the face of Solar systems – they direct energy into your home during the day to power your main incoming feed and store the excess in your batteries. This allows you to reduce your utility bills and reduce the run time of your generator.

About SOLAX Power
A division of the Suntellite Group, our vision is to be a world leader in the development, production and sales of inverters that incorporate innovative technologies and state of the art capabilities, providing our customers the power to harvest nature’s energy.

SOLAX products are designed, tested and manufactured to the highest global standards. Proudly supported by more than 30 international offices with 24-hour, 7 days per week online service, our products are exported to over 60 countries via 200 distribution channels. SOLAX products come with international module certifications such as TÜV, CE, SAA, UL, MCS, ROHS and inverter certificates, VDE, SAA, EN50438, G83, G59, C10/11

About AWPS Renewable Energy, LTD
AWPS Renewable Energy, LTD provides clean energy. The company has changed the Nigeria Energy industry by providing lithium battery only solutions directly to home-owners and business for less than they spend on running their generators. AWPS Renewable Energy, LTD gives customers control of their energy costs and protects from inflationary costs of fuel and rising electricity tariffs. The company makes solar energy easy by providing, remote monitoring and maintenance of the solar systems. Visit the company online at www.atlanticwastepower.com and follow the company on Facebook & Twitter.

Tested and ready for the Nigerian Market

The SolaX power solutions are IP55 rated. Can be installed outside and are dust and water resistant. They have been SALT tested. If you live on the Island in Lagos, this is important. Your new investment will not corrode or fail due to the air quality. If you live in Port Harcourt, you don’t have to worry about soot getting into your inverter and causing it to fail. It comes with all the toys too. Real time, monitoring and an app for Android or IPhone to allow you to monitor your energy use.

Nigeria’s Best Warranty
The Solar X G-4 inverter comes with a 10 year warranty. Double the best warranty in the Nigerian Market today. The battery comes with a 10 year warranty, 10 years better that the best lead acid and up 30% better than the leading competitor in the Nigerian market today

 

Happy Birthday America.

 

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Solar Energy News

6 common misconceptions about solar

The high increase in the number of panels installed yearly shows the vast opportunities and benefits of installing a solar panel in your home or business area.

Solar energy is the use of energy from the sun to produce energy. Although there are various behind the scene processes that occur before electricity is made available to power your appliances, solar energy remains a sure way to reduce pollution in the environment and save the planet.

Solar as with many other inventions has its myths and misconceptions. Everyone you meet has a say about solar. Some could be positive and others negative.

However, I  have come to realize that the opinion of people influences our purchasing decision and that is the reason I have put together this article to address some of the myths you are likely to hear about solar.

Here are 6 common misconceptions you will probably hear as you interact with people about solar.

Common misconceptions about solar

1. Solar panels will harm the roof

 

This is one common misconception. People often think that the presence of a solar panel on their roof will harm their roof.

Some also think that the installation of solar panels on the roof will mean breaking the roof. Both of these thoughts are wrong.

Solar panels do not harm your roof rather, they enhance the durability of your roof by shielding it from harsh weather conditions, dust, dirt bird droppings, and other things that could make the roof deteriorate.

Also, the installation of solar panels on the roof does not require breaking the roof. Solar panels are easy to install and as a bonus, the part of the building where the rooftop solar is installed remains cool even in hot weather conditions.

 

2. Inverters get hot, catch fire and burn down houses

Yes, inverters could catch fire. However, such incidence is rare as solar experts ensure they install the right type of inverter which could withstand, deliver and function properly. 

Not all inverters are created equally. There are different varieties of inverters. It is, therefore, the duty of your solar installer to source the best inverter for your home or business place.

Are you having issues locating a trusted solar expert?

Contact us to help.

 

3. Solar panels do not work in cloudy weather condition

Many believe that solar panels do not work in cloudy weather and that is not true. Solar panels do work even on cloudy days. The only hindrance is that they do not perform well on cloudy days as compared to sunny days.

One thing you should know is that solar does not need heat to generate electricity. All it needs is light from the sun. So, even on cloudy days, your solar panel is estimated to generate about 10-25%of its normal power output.

 

4.Solar is expensive

While this is true, it is also exciting that you know how the price of solar power is rapidly decreasing. Solar panels are cheaper now when compared to when they were first invented.

The price of solar power has rapidly decreased over the years. One more thing to know, with the installation of solar panels, you get to save money and this is a high return on investment.

 

5.Solar panels do not work at night

The essence of installing a battery is to make electricity available to you when needed even at night. The batteries effectively harness energy from the sun during the day to be used at night to power your devices. So, you do not need to fear.

6. Maintenance is not feasible

Maintaining your solar panels and batteries is now an easy thing to do which is less stressful and impactful.

All you need to do is contact your solar installer and discuss how often the panels and batteries should be maintained. It could be twice or thrice a year depending on you and your installer.

 

How we can help

We are a solar energy expert with over a decade of experience in the industry.

Deciding to go solar is of tremendous benefit. We are here to guide you through every stage. Contact us here.

 

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Solar Power

7 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GOING SOLAR

One shocking statistic about going solar is this; in 2018, the United States had 64.2 GW of installed solar, enough to power 12.3 million American homes.

Amazing right?

Yeah I know. That is because the sun produces enough energy every second to cover the needs of the earth for 500,000 years. The sun is that powerful and for this reason, a lot of people are excited about going solar. Going solar is one huge decision to make that can tremendously change your life home and environment forever.

The benefits of solar energy are numerous and as such, it is advisable to go solar. While this may seem like a good decision to make, there are certain things that you must consider before you go solar. Read carefully before making that decision.

Things to consider before going solar

1. Roof assessment

One of the first things you should consider before going solar is your roof. You need to assess the quality of your roof to ensure that it is facing a direction where the panels can get enough sunlight. Do not choose an area surrounded by shades as the panel will not produce at maximum efficiency under a shade. Also, the roof assessment will be assessed to ensure that it can withstand the weight of the solar panels.

2. Trusted experts

Before going solar, you should consider how and where you can find a trusted solar expert. Finding a reliable and trustworthy expert can be a daunting task but we at AWPS can make that easy for you. We are a solar company that focuses on catering to the solar needs of Nigerians. You can trust us to make your solar journey easy. Contact us here.

3. Cost

Financial analysis of the decision to go solar is one thing to be considered. The cost of purchasing and installing a solar panel varies.  See our catalog to get an idea of the cost.

  

4. Source of electricity

You will need to decide your source of electricity. Would you still want to be connected to the grid or would you want to depend solely on your solar panels? That is a choice you need to make.

 

5. Lease or purchase

Would you want to purchase a solar panel for yourself or would you want to lease one for a specific period? That is one thing to consider before going solar.

 

6. Batteries

You may consider adding a solar battery to your installation. A solar battery stores charges from your solar panel and makes it available for use when needed. Solar batteries will be of good importance if you want to depend solely on your solar panels and if you also intend to run your appliances even during a power failure.

 

7. Maintenance

How often would you be willing to run a maintenance routine on your solar panels? Twice or Thrice a year? This is also an important aspect to put into consideration. Maintaining your solar panels and batteries is a must-do as it can enhance the efficiency of your system and you need to consider how often you want it done.

Final thought

Going solar is a huge decision to make and as such, adequate attention and consideration need to be made.

Having doubts about going solar?

Reach out to us and we would schedule a call with you.

 

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Solar Energy News

Benefits of installing rooftop solar panels

A rooftop solar panel refers to solar panels that are installed on the roof of buildings. You probably must-have seen them in many buildings and wondered why people did bother installing the solar panels on the rooftop rather than choosing another location.

There are tremendous benefits of installing rooftop solar panels. Here are few reasons why rooftop solar panel installation is preferable.

Benefits of installing rooftop solar panels

1. Direct sun

Solar panels generate electricity by the direct action of sunlight on the photovoltaic cells contained in each solar panel.

 

When solar panels are installed on your roof, direct sunlight strikes the panels and generates electricity.

Another advantage is that there is rarely any obstruction to the action of the sun on your solar panels when they are installed on rooftops.

 

2. Space and convenience

The installation of solar panels on the rooftop created more space in the compound. Rooftop solar panels make room for convincing and allow easy navigation to different areas in the compounds.

 

3. Utilization of vacant roof

The installation of solar panels on the roof helps you utilize your vacant roof.

 

4. Low maintenance

Solar panels are easy to maintain and the installation of solar panels on the roof even makes it easier to maintain as raindrops tend to wash off first which could block or hinder the efficacy of your solar panels. Quick installation

Solar panels are quick to install and are of good benefits in the long run.

 

5. No noise, zero emissions

Rooftop solar panels make no noise whatsoever when generating electricity. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that can be effectively tackled by the use of solar panels.

 

Other hazardous emissions released from the combustion of fossil fuel are drastically reduced by the installation of solar panels.

Giving us a stable and healthy environment.

 

7. Climatic changes

Rooftop solar panels and solar panels, in general, produce no greenhouse gases. If the use of solar panels is implemented widely, they can help reduce the effect of climatic change and give us all an eco-friendly environment which would greatly impact our health.

 

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Solar Power Solar Projects

Energy Saving Tips: How to Conserve Energy at Home

Conservation of energy is an essential and ideal thing to do if you want to get the best out of your utility bills most especially if you use a prepaid meter.

To conserve energy, you need to cut down the amount of energy consumed in your home. While this may sound like hard stuff to do, it is quite simple and easy to do if you follow the tips outlined and explained below 

 

Keep in mind that these tips will work for your home, office, and any other place where you need to conserve energy. So, let’s dive in.

 

9 sure-fire energy saving tips

1. Use LED bulbs

One way to conserve energy and get the best out of your payment is to replace all standard bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs.

Standard bulbs consume a whole lot of electric current than the LED bulbs. Although quite expensive when compared to standard bulbs, LED bulbs are energy-efficient are a better choice in the long run.

2. Use a fan when possible

Continuous use of air conditioners also contributes to the high electricity bills you pay. Air conditioners consume a lot of energy and therefore are not ideal to use always.

A fan always comes as a perfect substitute for the use of an air conditioner. The fan helps conserve energy which is just what you want to do.

3. Purchase energy-efficient appliances

As with the bulbs, it is of high importance that you purchase only energy-efficient appliances. When purchasing appliances such as iron-dishwasher er, washing machine,e, and other appliances, ensure you go for energy-conserving ones.

They are proven to be energy efficient although they are quite expensive when compared to others and they are a good return on investment for you since they conserve energy and save you the stress of high electricity bills.

 

4. Poor connection/electrical issues

The poor connection could be one reason for energy loss in the home. To conserve more energy, you need to contact an electrician to run a check on all writing connections and repair all electrical issues.

 

5. Turn off all appliances when not in use bet you didn’t know how much energy has been consumed by the appliances you left, on the whole, going out. Or did you know?

Well, if you did Kudos to you and if you didn’t know, there’s how it works.

Leaving your appliance on when not in use contributes to the vast amount of energy consumed by you. So, the next time you aren’t making use of an appliance, do turn it off.

 

Even something as minor as your phone’s charger ought to be the end off when not in use as this enables you to conserve more energy.

6. Shut all windows and doors when using an air conditioner

When using an air conditioner, do ensure to shut all windows and doors to conserve energy and get the best out of the power consumed by the air conditioner.

7. Home audit

Once in a while, conduct an audit on your home energy. A home audit gives you insight into the best ways to improve the energy efficiency and quality of your home.

 

8. Watt rating

Perform an exact rating on all your appliances to ascertain which one consumes so much energy and map out strategies to replace high energy consuming appliances with low energy consuming ones.

9. Go solar

One way to reduce the amount you spend on electricity is to get the most out of the free energy made available by the sun.

Install a solar panel and save yourself the stress of high electricity bills. There are many benefits of installing a solar panel.

Installing a solar panel gives you an edge over others as you become independent of the utility company.

To find out more about solar panel installation, contact us here.

 

Final thought

Conserving energy is an ideal thing to do. As above, you can follow those tips to conserve energy.

I would love to hear from you, what other ways do you conserve energy at home.

Categories
Solar Energy News

Benefits of buying a house with solar panels in Nigeria

Solar power has always been a good investment to make. Are you considering purchasing a new home and you are in between deciding on purchasing one with solar panels and one without solar panels?

 

A personal opinion would be to purchase that with solar panels. However, I wouldn’t want you to take my words for it. I would want you to explore further and acknowledge the benefit of having a home with solar panels.

Solar panels could save you the hefty bills you pay for electricity and apart from that, you get more and more out of the investment.

Over the last few years, solar panels have been installed in more houses than before. In U.S alone more than 12.3 million Americans installed solar panels in their home in 2018. That shows how beneficial solar-powered houses are. 

You may also read: Benefits of solar energy

Here are some reasons you should purchase a house with solar panels.

5 Solid Reasons You Should Purchase a House With Solar Panels

1. Generate your sustainable energy

Purchasing a house with already installed solar panels gives you the ability to generate sustainable energy. You become independent of a utility company and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels which is great for you.

In Nigeria, there is heavy dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used in powerhouses and they increase the carbon emission in the environment. If you purchase a house with solar panels, you are sure to be generating your sustainable energy which leaves no noise pollution or carbon emission on the environment.

2. Constant electricity

On a sunny day, you are sure to get the most out of the sun’s free energy which can also be stored for use on a cloudy day if you have solar panels already installed in your home. 

With good batteries added to the installation, you are sure to enjoy constant electricity which NEPA (or any other utility company) cannot give you. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and doing all you want to do with electricity all because you have a home that is powered by the sun.

That’s one advantage of buying a house with solar panels.

3. Save money

An average home in Nigeria spends nothing less than #10,000 on electricity bills per month and this doesn’t include the money spent on generator bills too.

Let’s do little calculations for the money spent on running a generator.

Taking that the price of petro is #150/liter and diesel is #190/liter. You use a generator which operates using petrol and you buy a minimum of 3 liters a day.

That alone sums up to #450/day, #3,150/week, #13,500/month and #164,250/year.

Looking at that of diesel using a minimum of 3liters daily gives #570/day, #3,990/week, #17,100/month, and #208,050 / year.

This a just a rough estimate of how much you spend in running a generator every day.

Investing in purchasing a house with solar panels is worth the money.

4. Little maintenance

Unlike the generator used in powering most homes in Nigeria, solar panels are easier to maintain. A typical generator will require monthly or bimonthly maintenance which could be expensive most times.

For solar panels, maintenance occurs 2-4 times a year and it is relatively cheap depending on the company.

5. Improved home value

If you are looking for a good investment to make, then you should purchase a house with solar panels. Homes with solar panels are valuable in the market right now. They are considered an asset that can be sold for a much higher price than was purchased at a much faster rate.

Final thoughts

Before purchasing a house with solar panels, you should find out about the size of the panels and how much electricity it generates. Smaller solar panels produce a small electric current which may not be enough to successfully power your home appliances.