Why Nigeria Is Suddenly Betting on Solar

[@siriusman6169]

Solar energy has wiped the tears of many Nigerians battling with incessant power shortage. I hope the govt would intervene by subsidizing the price of Solar panels and inverters, so that Nigeria can achieve it clean energy goals.

[@Thiccolo]

Clean energy goals for a 3rd world country? you got to be kidding me, about 55 percent of the country even has electricity and we are worried about clean energy goals. they should industrialize heavy and secure energy based on gas, coal , and nuclear.

[@siriusman6169]

@@Thiccolo The industrialization can be started from an environmentally conscious way, it can be a boon for third world countries to bypass the mistakes of China by being industrialized without destroying environments.

[@smedspets695]

​​@@siriusman6169the us could help build clean natural gas powerplants all over unfortunately rich politicians require solar because they are more concerned with looks than results

[@Thiccolo]

@@siriusman6169 priority of the country should be making 100% of the country's population have access to reliable and stable electricity. Which have only been shown through hydrocarbons and nuclear. Solar, wind, and other renewable technologies have not been anywhere as near reliable, while also being much more expensive to implement and maintain. Fact of the matter is Nigeria should be focusing on securing the countries energy future regardless of what it is. Instead of some baseless hope on solar, there's a reason not a major power in the world relies on solar in a major way.

[@AlbertMark-nb9zo]

@@Thiccolo - The industrial revolution was originally started with hydro power. Steam power was originally less than 1 hp engines used to pump water up to reservoirs for later use in the mills. It was piecemeal. Reliability is based on the ability to create and maintain a large system and network. They can't yet. Solar, at the ground level, can provide energy for a whole series of needs, without depending on external and vulnerable and unreliable actors. And those need will increase their economic ability to support larger things including a better network. The reason solar isn't used in a major way, is because the cost was too high in the past. Those costs have come down significantly.

[@starek1701]

Puerto Rico is doing the same thing, the government is not helping a lot and people are getting their own solar equipment to their homes.

[@aliyusx]

Isn't Puerto Rico somehow part of the USA

[@nextinstitute7824]

Nigeria: oil country, Lagos 2000 sunshine hours. Germany, no oil, 1600 sunshine hours. There really shouldn't be power shortages in Nigeria. This problem should have been solved years ago.

[@nox4000]

It boils down to cultural things and corruption

[@Paulo44.01]

​@@nox4000right, nothing to do with a history of colonialism and exploitation in Africa

[@paxvlog]

@@Paulo44.01 The culture and corruption was first, that's why they were able to be colonized and exploited.

[@opeyemiojutiku1264]

Sometimes things are not as simple as they seem and the world is complex... You were born advantaged based on your nationality, be glad about that and let other people face their disadvantages and challenges without comparing them with such superiority complex in your attitude.... You have zero idea what their struggles are. The world is not an ideal system if you know what that means. Congratulations, the world is great for you 🥂🥂🥂🥂

[@ugwuanyicollins6136]

@@nox4000 more complex than that

[@SpoileralertGMA47]

Imagine the possibilities if the infrastructure over there was improved upon it’s absolutely mind blowing to me that it hasn’t already

[@RemusKingOfRome]

Yes, forget infrastructure, solar panels on your roof, even a battery, turn your own home into a power station. Maybe rich nations should help de-carb 3rd world nations, maybe bypass suspect governments ?

[@astroboirap]

they're too busy scamming

[@Bprovo]

@@astroboirap America is a bigger fraud node than Nigeria lol. Nigeria has NEVER been the top fraud market. It's just the most known due to emails. When you get scammed by Americans they don't announce their origin etc. When Nigerians scam you, they call themselves princes etc. That is why people think Nigerians are the lead scammers, when they are not. Americans, North Koreans, Russians are the pros. In fact, when OTHER countries use advance fee fraud, they still claim to be Nigerians. For example, Ghanaian scammers will also claim to be Nigerian, because the template is already known and workeable. But hey whatever helps you sleep at night.

[@wayando]

​@@RemusKingOfRome. .. I have a solar and battery system for my business ... It is incredibly expensive! ... 8 times of what it would cost if I installed a generator. Batteries are so expensive. I started the process without knowing what I would finally spend. Most people wouldn't do it.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

@@wayando Yes, I think battery prices will come down within the next few years.

[@AbdulQayoompalijo]

Coincidentally, Pakistan has almost same scenario as of Nigeria. Likr nigeria l, it has unreliable Power supply, long hours of power outages and load-shedding from corrupt Government owned utility companies. Similarly, recently the care taker Government of Pakistan has withdrawn from giving the subsidy on natural gas. Now it is hard to bear for me to pay the 173% increased bill of Gas and run my Gasoline generator on such a high cost. Nevertheless, i am going to buy solar panels next month🙂

[@Flopkillerbase]

We can never be like Pakistan shut up.

[@willm5814]

@@Flopkillerbasewhy so rude?

[@blackkissi]

3:20 that wire crimping hurts my brain :D

[@thewantedbullofwallstreet]

I'm a Cameroonian but analysing the comment section. I can assume that only a hand full of Nigerians / Africans watched this video. If it was some sort of cemedy you'll see millions of us watching but since it's educational only few of us are here. Big shout-out to Bloomberg team for this documentary

[@drsolar]

We are a provider of quality Solar solutions in Nigeria. We have seen an uptick in demand.

[@CaptainDukeSilver]

How are the solar projects insured?

[@drsolar]

@@CaptainDukeSilver the owner of the project purchases a policy.

[@EasyyokeFilms]

​@CaptainDukeSilver They are non existent. Getting into the system on its own is already very expensive for many to afford talkmore spend more money on insurance. Nobody does that here

[@janvangorp6918]

I just hope that your solar systems are with lithium battery's and not AGM. They are really worthless. In the African climate, they hold 3 years max

[@drsolar]

@@janvangorp6918 we have been doing Lithium since 2018. Thank you for commenting

[@midnightfuture]

Very well done report! Kudos to Ms. Ibukun and the team.

[@arturodelarosa4394]

Holy ****! people should be flocking to fill this market gap, a country with that much reliable sun, with that much need, with that much space for growth, It's really just missing financing solutions. This should be a solar rush for companies around the world.

[@_2girls1bottl3]

Fr

[@mr.smooth9124]

The problem is who's gonna pay for it? They just said it's too expensive for the majority of ppl living there.

[@MrOgonna]

the issue is the unstable currency rate of the naira and the high inflation.. how will some foreign financiers retrieve their money with the declining currency and increasing inflation of the local currency.. the best option would be for local financiers till the currency stabilizes

[@arturodelarosa4394]

@@MrOgonna They are running on petrol. Which means they are obviously not willing to live without it. Is not like energy is a market at risk of dying. I understand that volatility makes investors afraid, but that is precisely my point. The market is screaming for it. Even with volatility is a high reward investment. Besides what i was thinking is financing, not raw investment. you can back up your losses through a financial instrument is not like it has never been done before. The problem with this market is not the lack of demand, it is simply the lack of capital of the average Nigerian household. They will pay for it, (they do so in petrol anyway) they just cant pay for it upfront. This is what solar usually demands, so again all you need to close that gap is to finance it in such a way that it will cost them about the same as they spend on petrol right now.

[@MrOgonna]

@@arturodelarosa4394 exactly my point but there are some underlining issues. firstly, petrol in Nigeria is subsidized heavily so the price is average of $0.50/liter, this makes fuel generators more admirable since the initial cost is quite cheaper. the subsidy was supposed to have been removed but turns out they continued after it hard a huge hit on the economy.. in summary, it still a huge market but still very risky for foreign investors at least for now... maybe in few months or so, who knows

[@backacheache]

Looking forward to the day I don't have to hear, smell or breathe another dirty little engine!

[@krob9145]

People can start small. You don't necessarily have to do your whole roof in solar if you can't afford to do so or are unable to do so. Think micro solar power. Get enough to supply your lights with a battery too and charge up a mobile phone. Then get a solar panel just for your fridge. If or when you add a lap top or tablet then add another panel. Later when times are better you can upgrade. Even if you can't mount the panels on an outside wall just placing it outside works or by a window getting the sun. Even people in North Korea living in apartments use them by their windows and balconies in a temperate climate where blackouts occur daily. My mother does have mains electricity in the Caribbean but even there occasional blackouts happen for a few hours. There's been too much demand on the power stations. She has a few solar panels so she can get by for months or years if need be if such an emergency occurs and there's a long blackout. Fortunately that has never happened. She did have issues connecting up her newly built house at first but she was fine because of her solar panels. They take ages connecting up newly built properties.

[@nnamdiobiako5773]

I remember going back home to Nigeria for the first time since I left. This was maybe back in 2010. I saw something that bothered me so much. It was a singular street light on a dark road and it was connected to 1 small yahama generator. That blew my mind. 1 generator powering just 1 street light while the others were dark. In a country that had so much sun, why aren't they using solar power? The biggest challenge I thought was making it cost effective for the poorest Nigerian and surviving the clash with the groups of people in control of NEPA.

[@edgargonza1769]

The narrator is very knowledgeable. Super impressed!

[@joey8033]

Lol would you be "impressed" if it was a white guy in suit tho?

[@edgargonza1769]

@joey8033 Thanks for the comment. The knowledge is what I'm impressed by. I actually wasn't watching most of the time, just listening, and I found the facts and knowledge and insights being shared impressive. So whether the person was wearing a suit, a dress, rags, a kanzu or was black, white, or any other, I still would have been impressed.

[@joey8033]

@@edgargonza1769 lol okay sir that's nice to hear

[@tranceandbeyond]

Solar is the only way in Nigeria. Mostly in the village

[@horsemouthjones9060]

"The fuel subsidy is gone" People clapped only to wake up next day and notice the price had quadrupled 🤣🤣🤣 Mugus

[@kukasolar]

There is a long way for Nigeria solar power industry, but means many opportunities, we produce solar cable and connectors for 120 countries, Nigeria is a key market for us.

[@ReginaJune]

1:42 the noise pollution, the smell FML

[@samphyrz]

Solar panel will be very useful in a hot country like Nigeria you know. Its all sun during the day so imagine how much power it can get from that.

[@ProAdsSkipper]

Huge long term benefits compared to even western countries that are not even thinking of such transition

[@Bonifatcii]

Most western country doesn't have such amount of sunlight, that is the reason, but a lot of European countries, especially on the north ususing wind energy

[@jaik9321]

Sun and wind are way to go for power across the globe,still it’s untapped

[@janvangorp6918]

Running on solar for 6 yrs. 4.5 kw solar, daily 21 kw:h use. Only weak point are the battery's. Forget A.G.M battery's.

[@DrRussell]

May I please ask for your feedback on AGM batteries please?

[@janvangorp6918]

The problem with AGM is the so-called memory effect. If you want to use your powerbank for a longer period of time, then you have to avoid a discharge that goes below the 50%. So if I need a 12kw power supply for the night, then I need minimum a 24 kw powerbank. Lithium is in that fare, more stable and better. @@DrRussell

[@vanrietfrederik]

@@janvangorp6918 that 12kw power, is that because of airco or something like that???

[@janvangorp6918]

I have a bar resto. The nearest supermarket is 130km a way from us, this wy I have 3 deep-friezers, 3 freezer, we also use 2 microwaves. I have a 48 volt 5 kw inverter. nothing left for airco😮‍💨@@vanrietfrederik

[@vanrietfrederik]

@@janvangorp6918👍👍

[@_DRMR_]

Why didn't the government move these energy subsidies towards the solar market?

[@ReginaJune]

0:58 off road bicycles or 3 wheel bikes for hauling - shared use if you can.

[@fistandpen2505]

Not so simple. Bad roads (bumper to bumper traffic, and to a lesser extent security) means EVERYONE in the Nigerian middle class has an SUV (in Lagos anyway). Whose going to be the first to give theirs up. You gotta be in a place to really understand the nuance of local issues, impossible to project solutions from afar.

[@A_Litre_of_Farva]

Fuel subsidies ended, price went way up…same thing will happen in North America, better get an electric car soon and solar panels. Perfect solution ❤

[@ArthursHD]

I go with a bicycle, It is cheaper :) And solar PV

[@stennan]

Very cool! I assume that a small battery is included to provide power for lighting and appliances after sundown?

[@xxwookey]

7:26 "generators account for 15000 MW of power". 15GW from generators? Is that really right?. She said earlier (1:42) that the city only has 1GW total (from the grid). There is 15 times as much from generators? 16GW for 25 million people would be UK levels of electricity production, and I'd expect it to be less over there. Maybe that's 'peak generator' and they are not all used at once?

[@Kingrocky79]

the should just put all the gen power together 😅

[@Forge17]

I would think most generator power is wasted since it is less variable to individual needs than a Grid system. so that number probably reflects a lot of wasted energy from widespread generator use

[@mrobinson]

Most honest foreign reporting I've watched about us here in Lagos-Nigeria. The only thing she got wrong most likely due to being bribed is the Solar Company we're mostly using here for off-grid isn't Nigerian but Chinese! I personally went to the Chinese Company - Fidelity to go off-grid & unlike the Nigerian Coy you're showing, they go out of stock quick! Everybody is buying from there & the Chinese who have better & cheaper products! Your Ibukun was lazy in her reportings Bloomberg.

[@fungsealoon]

Vietnam has more micro generation than its grid can fully cope with ATM

[@ErnestoSun]

Nothing romantic about generators 😢

[@Forge17]

Perhaps some communities will be able to sell back excess energy to an updated grid one day. That would be a transformational change to make solar cheaper for residents, and cheaper for the state than fully upgrading/expanding the grid.

[@trs4u]

There's a danger in moving straight to 'renewable' electric without developing domestic hydrocarbon chemical engineering: you'll never be able to produce your own infrastructure. This is the pit everyone needs to plan to safely cross over. If you're blessed with prodigious renewable energy and you can convert it into export products, you may be able to afford to import your infrastructure, and long-term its regular replacement. If you can't make the infrastructure and its regular replacements, and your exports aren't that great, you'll still be as dependent on 'global suppliers' as you are now. But yeah, having at least some home-gen capacity is a little bit of freedom for any home - everyone should do it.

[@youme1414]

Solar for homes not for industry. At least, know the difference. Jeez!

[@trs4u]

@@youme1414 The "home" in "home-gen" in last sentence refers to "homes". Getting energy to everyone is "infrastructure". The equipment homeowners need must come from somewhere. If it must be imported, you haven't really solved your dependency problem.

[@bamidelefasanmi3031]

Individuals can't solve the infrastructural challenge. Many are even barely able to provide energy for themselves.

[@bamidelefasanmi3031]

Many were assembling inverters locally years ago but stopped because it was not competitive- the costs were almost the same with the imported ones which people preferred.

[@trs4u]

@@bamidelefasanmi3031 sorry, my comment was quite far off topic. I was thinking of 'cost to country' rather than cost-to-person. Sometimes we think imports are cheap because we can't see what's being exported to pay for them.

[@briyxe]

Bruh I live in Aden it's the same thing and worst. and no one gave a F

[@mcteseer2527]

انا مثلك ي اخي و ان شاء الله الشهر القادم اركب طاقة شمسية و نرتاح من ام الكهرباء

[@shawnfromportland]

4:03 "21.5 Gigawatts????!!" **Doc Brown voice**

[@bysebastiaan3106]

How much for that battery system that was shown?

[@SrikarKura]

What about solar subsidies by the Nigerian government? or IMF/World Bank loans for green energy?

[@theunknownunknowns256]

The Ministry for the Future happening in real-time.

[@ugwuanyicollins6136]

Oh the book

[@ReginaJune]

6:06 if you build earthship buildings - houses with agricultural space, you can have smaller solar panels. Energy requirements for a strawbale building are low and will keep you cool in African heat. Natural buildings are less cost intensive as climate change isn’t going to spare anyone and insurance isn’t going to get cheaper. All you can do is be well positioned for resilience.

[@adon8672]

Great idea in principle but not feasible in dense urban areas like Lagos.

[@Deng-a-weng]

Servus und hallo Gemeinde, es ist schön zu sehen, daß auch in Nigeria Solarenergie langsam fahrt aufnimmt. Ja es ist ein Problem, das eine erhebliche Anfangsinvestition dafür nötig ist. Wir haben uns ein Balkonkraftwerk gekauft mit Wechselrichter und Gestell für nur 350 €. Das zahlt sich durch den eingesparten (nicht gekauften) Strom nach nicht einmal vier Jahren ab. Auch in Nigeria geht die Solarenergie von der Bürgerhand aus.

[@ViksterG]

The solutions are there. Its just that the political will isn't and usually because of corruptions.

[@aesop_]

SunFi is solving the accessibility and affordability problems. Shout out to the astronauts.

[@emoney822]

Solar will fix the power issues

[@freemanhe3974]

Thanks for cheap solar panels from China.

[@vlexus]

nice video very informative

[@wayando]

How does a country that sells oip have energy shortage though? ... They are inly supposed to he selling the extra after they take what they need. Or is it an issue with transmission?

[@juli5071]

Nice

[@sterlingferguson1704]

Ethiopia is ahead of Nigeria in solar power. Nigeria is a day late and money short.

[@SallehKheeda]

Money short? Do you know what you are talking about?

[@opanugatobi1131]

Money short? NO! Corrupt leaders? Yes!

[@KozmicKami]

Can the Nigerians come fix the Power Crises of South Africa?

[@vladimirlenin843]

If even Gazan use solar panels Nigerian using it doesn't seems too weird anymore

[@purebliss186]

Generator republic 😂😂😂

[@biafra13743]

Biafra is here!

[@osas5211]

Up nepa

[@joey8033]

Everytime I hear the authentic nigerian accent in foreign media i can't help but wonder where Hollywood got that trash wakanda accent from

[@ytjoemoore94]

1000th like 😎

[@lokesh303101]

Blackouts.

[@ZaytovenHawkins]

Tesla power wall

[@emmanuelsundayvictor2394]

You’re mad bro , we can’t even get fuel in Lagos in Nigeria and you’re saying we are betting on solar . Do you think the government are ready to give out any money to the Nigerian people ?

[@demoq911]

Greetings, is this designed by Nigerian women and men?

[@byronmorris1594]

The United States will have to create more solar energy. Force people to develop their own energy. Stop depending on others to produce energy.

[@irokpe6977]

The west contributed to the world suffering

[@osas5211]

They don’t have light outages stop it y’all privileged lol it’s jus redundant

[@incognitotorpedo42]

Not everyone wants to or even can produce their own energy. Do you want people to build their own cars too?

[@jidebolarinwa697]

@@osas5211 They have bills

[@smedspets695]

Its a shame us energy goals are forced apon developeing nations, democrats hold back funding for contrys if they build coal or gas plants, we should previde blueprints and capture devices for clean natural gass,coal,and gass powerplant . Instead we hold funds hostage if contrys build their own infistructure.

[@greenpixel556]

because some scammers can make money of it.

[@ZaytovenHawkins]

Tesla power wall