Nigerians turn to solar as grid power falters

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us Nigerians turn to solar as grid power falters Business & Economy October 30, 2026 12:08 am Picture of solar panel used for illustration.

Nigerians are increasingly turning to solar power as inadequate electricity supply from the national grid drives demand for alternative energy sources, with the country’s annual solar installations potentially exceeding 200 megawatts in 2026, according to the Africa Solar Industry Association.

The association’s Director of Operations, Benjamin Clarke, disclosed this on Thursday while announcing the 2026 edition of the Renewable Energy Forum Africa, scheduled to hold on 25 and 26 November in Lagos.

Clarke said Nigeria’s annual solar installations rose from about 15 megawatts in 2019 to 123MW in 2024, as approximately 79MW was added in 2025.

He said about 89MW of new solar capacity has already become operational in 2026, while another 115MW remained under construction. If completed within the year, he said, the combined capacity would push new installations above 200MW, marking the highest annual addition recorded in the association’s data for Nigeria.

According to him, the country’s inadequate grid supply has encouraged businesses to seek alternatives, particularly solar power, to reduce their dependence on diesel generators.

“Nigeria is also a very impressive commercial and industrial solar market. Think of factories, hotels, offices, shopping centres, and other industrial segments installing their own solar. The national grid falls far short of what Nigeria needs, so many businesses, instead, rely on diesel generators for backup power. And that’s a big reason why solar is taking off,“ he said, adding that Nigeria’s C&I solar segment has grown about 32 per cent per year since 2021, equating to roughly three times as much capacity.

He added that Nigeria ranks second in Africa for annual commercial and industrial solar installations in 2024, behind South Africa, with about 82MW installed during the year.

According to Clarke, Nigeria has approximately 620MW of operational solar capacity, making it the leading country in West Africa, ahead of Senegal with about 425MW.

He said Nigeria accounts for roughly a quarter of the operational solar capacity of the 10 leading countries in West Africa, based on AFSIA’s verified data.

The association’s director also said Nigeria leads the continent in solar mini-grid capacity, with approximately 132MW, representing 31 per cent of Africa’s total and more than twice Angola’s 58MW.

Clarke said the country’s renewable energy market offers opportunities beyond solar, noting that about 2.9 gigawatts of hydropower capacity has been developed against a target of 11GW by 2030.

On policy developments, Clarke said new mini-grid regulations introduced in April allowed standalone mini-grids of up to 5MW and grid-connected mini-grids of up to 10MW.

He also said net-billing rules introduced in June allow businesses with solar installations between 50 kilowatts and 1.5MW to export excess electricity to the grid and receive credits on their bills.

The REFA 2026 forum, organised by AFSIA, is expected to bring together investors, project developers, policymakers, utilities, regulatory authorities and major power consumers to discuss renewable energy investment opportunities across Africa.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the African Mini-grid Developers Association, Olamide Niyi-Afuye, stated that expanding electricity access should go beyond connecting people to power and focus on the economic activities that reliable electricity could support.

He noted that electricity access could help farmers process agricultural produce closer to their farms, preserve harvests through cold storage and reach new markets, while businesses could use reliable power to increase production and improve competitiveness.

Dare Olawin is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of reporting experience. He began his career as a community reporter and now covers the energy sector, including oil, gas, electricity, and renewables. Dare’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, professional development through workshops and conferences, and a strong commitment to accurate and insightful journalism.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.