Solar Energy: Consumers Decry High Cost Of Installation Equipment

SOME solar energy consumers and other Nigerians on Wednesday attributed the slow pace at embracing the technology to the high cost of installation materials.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN in Abuja, that the rising cost of PhotoVoltaic (PV) panels, inverters, and batteries was a major challenge to the installation of the technology

According to them, despite the abundance of sun in Nigeria, and the ability of solar power to end energy deficit, support growth of small businesses, many Nigerians have remained indifferent to adopting the technology.

They were reacting to Federal Government’s call to Nigerians to embrace solar energy and other renewable sources, given the limited nature of the national grid to provide electricity to all Nigerians.

The Federal Government had repeatedly emphasised that it was diversifying electricity generation, distribution and transmission with other renewable energy solutions like solar.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, had at a book launch advised Nigerians to embrace solar energy to reduce pressure on the national grid.

“We are committed to incremental power and policies that will drive the power sector. Solar is one of the renewable energy,” the minister said.