CREDC

Solar Micro Off-Grid to Provide Electricity in Uniarho Community in Edo State, Southern Nigeria

Interim Report October, 2013

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 2 ]

The Interim Report on the Project

“Solar Micro Off-Grid to Provide Electricity in Uniarho Community in Edo State, Southern Nigeria”

The Project Implementation was made possible through the support of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)

and technical support from Schneider Electric Nigeria

CREDC

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 3 ]

This report was made possible through the efforts of the CREDC Team: Etiosa Uyigue, Mathew Agho, Okungbowa Golden, Ogbemudia Osamuyi Godfrey, Osazee Paul Uyigue, Agharese Edevbaro, Esther Kir, Agatha Osajiele, Valentine Eku, Harry Abolo, Okpala Blessing Ifeoma, Umweni Osamuyi Gloria, Ogbolu Awele Mary and Chubi Okafor. Edited by: Etiosa Uyigue Copyright © Community Research and Development Centre, 2013 Secretariat 266, Ugbowo-Lagos Road Ugbowo Quarters P. O. Box 11011, Benin City Edo State Nigeria Tel: +234 52 941343; 0703 940 5619 Email: info@credcentre.org Website: www.credcentre.org

CREDC

All or part of this publication can be reproduced without prior authorization. However, the

Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) should be credited.

The information contained in this report is solely the responsibility of the CREDC. The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and our technical partner Schneider Electric Nigeria should not be held liable in any way for any information

shared in this document.

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 4 ]

Table of Content

Acknowledgement 5

Acronyms 6

Background 7

Executive Summary 8

Courtesy Visit 9

Training Workshop 9

Installation Activity 11

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 5 ]

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Almighty God for giving us good health and strength to complete this first phase of the project. The Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) deeply appreciate the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) for their support so far in actualizing this project. Special thanks go to Miss. Monica Madueke, ECREEE grant officer for this project whose constructive criticism and advice was ensured that the period under review was successful. Worthy of appreciation are the youths and elders of Uniaro Community for the active role they played during the implementation of this phase of Project. We also thank Mr. Marcel Hochet, the country director of Schneider Electric for his effort toward the success of this project. All members and staff of the CREDC are appreciated for their time and the energy expended to ensure the success of this Project.

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 6 ]

Acronyms

CREDC Community Research and Development Centre

ECREEE ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Kw Kilo-Watt

LED Lead Emitting Diode

LERC Local Energy Regulatory Committee

MW Mega-Watt

NCEE National Center for Energy and Environment

NERC National Electricity Regulatory Commission

PREEEN Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Nigeria

PV Photovoltaic

USD United States Dollar

W Watt

Wh Watt-hour

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 7 ]

Background Nigeria with a population of over 160 million people is currently facing energy crises. From the installed electricity generation station with a capacity to generate 6,000MW of electricity, it only generates approximately 4,000MW of electricity currently. From this megawatt of electricity which is available for distribution, only 40% of the population has access to electricity and majority of the 60% of Nigeria population which does not have access to electricity live in rural communities. This has affected socio-economic development both in the rural and urban areas in the country thereby increasing the level of poverty. To solve this energy problem, Nigerians now depend on petrol/diesel generator while those in the rural communities continue in the use of kerosene and biomass as source of energy for heating and lighting. Emission of CO2 gas from the use of these energy sources has negative effect on both the environment and the health of these rural people. The National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) estimated that Nigerians spend up to N769.4 billion (USD89.5) annually in fuelling generators. Uniarho community is among the numerous communities in southern Nigeria that is yet to be connected to the national grid. With a population of about 1,500 individuals including women and children, the community rely on unsustainable sources of energy such as kerosene lamps and burning of wood for lighting and cooking. The practice of using unsustainable energy sources expose the inhabitants who are predominantly farmers especially women and children to respiratory ailments due to the inhaling of obnoxious gases. Using a Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility of about 2400 watts (2.4kw) electricity is generated from the facility called “Greenhouse” which is located at a central location within the Community. From the Green House, electricity is channelled to power a borehole to provide water for the Community, to power a ‘Media House’ which will comprise of a TV set and a satellite decoder to enable the community access information from local and international TV stations. The remaining energy from the Green House will be channelled to 10 houses to power energy efficient light bulbs and fans. Each of the houses will be metered so that beneficiaries can pay for the energy they consumed. A total of 15 youths of the community will be trained on how to install and maintain solar PV systems. To ensure the sustainability and possible upgrading or replication of this project, a Local Energy Regulatory Committee (LERC) will be set up in the community. They will include women and youths amongst the 15 trained youths. The LERC will work with the CREDC Project Officer to ensure better monitoring and evaluation. The proceeds collected from the management of the facility will be used to maintain the facilities and pay the LERC staff.

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 8 ]

Executive Summary The project “Solar Micro Off-Grid to Provide Electricity in Uniarho Community in Edo State, Southern Nigeria” is being implemented by the Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) as part of the PREEEN Project (Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Nigeria) with support from the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and technical support from Schneider Electric Nigeria so far in actualizing the successes already recorded. The Project is located at Uniarho Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Southern Nigeria. Uniarho Community is among the numerous communities in southern Nigeria that do not have access to electricity. With a population of about 1,500 individuals including women and children, the community rely on unsustainable sources of energy such as kerosene lamps and burning of wood for lighting and cooking. This practice of using unsustainable energy sources exposes the inhabitants who are predominantly farmers especially women and children to respiratory ailments due to inhaling obnoxious gases. The objectives of this project are: to increase access to electricity in Uniarho Community; to reduce their vulnerability to respiratory ailments; increase access to information; increase economic activities which will help improve the source of livelihood in the Community; and to increase awareness of renewable energy in Edo State. The deliverables recorded so far within this first phase include; Building the capacity of 15 youths in Uniarho community to install and maintain the solar systems and also the installation of the green house which will be used to generate electricity to power social amenities in the community such as the public borehole for water and the media house.

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 9 ]

Courtesy Visit On the 16th of August, 2013 before commencing the training workshop and the first phase of the installation activity, the CREDC team lead by the Programme Manager, Mr. Ogbemudia Godfrey visited Uniarho community. With him on this trip were Miss Agharese Edevbaro, Mr. Osazee Paul Uyigue, Blessing Okpala and Gloria Umweni. The purpose of the visit was to brief the elders and youths of the community on the next phase of the project. Speaking to the community people in Uniarho, the Programme Manager Mr. Ogbemudia Godfrey appreciated them for their support during the first phase of the project which was the inception workshop. According to him, the project which is being funded by the ECREEE will solve energy problem in the community and will also provide access to portable drinking water and a media centre for everyone especially the youths to relax and watch football and movie via cable satellite decoder. Responding on behalf of the community, the youth chairman Mr. Monday Edegbe thanked the ECREEE for the project and the CREDC for choosing to implement this laudable project in their community. On behalf of the community, the youth chairman pledged their continuous support for the project.

Training Workshop The training of the 15 youths and LERC members started on the 27th of August, 2013. The two days training focused on the different components that made up the solar system, sizing of solar projects, local manufacturing process of LED lamps and practical hands on training of simple solar installation. Week One On the 27th of August, 2013 the training section was conducted by the consultant Mr Valentine Eku. The selected 15 youths of Uniarho community were trained on different components that make up the solar system and sizing of solar projects. While teaching the youths during the training workshop, Mr Valentine Eku told them that the solar system is made of three (3) main components which include; the solar panel, battery and charge controller and that the forth component which is optional is the inverter. He said solar panels were made up of solar cells which have been connected together. According to him, when two or more solar panels are connected together, it is referred to as solar array and that a solar cell has about 0.5 volt. He continued by saying that when installing a solar panel, it must be tilted at about angle 150 due southern hemisphere since Nigeria is located on the northern hemisphere.

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 10 ]

Valentine Eku and some of the Trainees during the Workshop

Week Two Mr Valentine Eku during the second day of training told the participants that when sizing a solar project, one must be careful not to size a project that will fail. According to him, as a solar technician, it is the energy to be used by your load that one should plan for and not just the power. Here, you are concerned about replacing the inefficient load with a more efficient one and with particular interest on how long it will be used per day. He told the trainees to size a solar system on watt-hour (Wh) rather than just watt (W). The consultant further taught the trainees on sizing and rating of solar panels.

Cross-section of trainnees during the workshop

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 11 ]

The second consultant, Mr Blessing from the National Centre for Energy and Environment (NCEE) University of Benin, lectured the trainees on LED technology. While addressing the participants he said LED technology is the current energy efficient technology for the manufacture of bulbs and lamp which does not only save energy but also saves money spent on energy bills. He added that LED does not consume much voltage, and also with as small as 200 naira which is about 1 euro; a LED lamp can be fabricated locally.

Installation Phase One The first phase of installation activity started on the 2nd of September, 2013 with the construction of the greenhouse which will serve as shelter to the batteries, charge controller and the inverter. It will also serve as an office for the LERC members. The solar arrays where mounted on the roof of the greenhouse. This was immediately followed up by site assessment by the civil engineering company that have been contracted to sink the borehole for the project

Members of CREDC Team at Project Site

On the 10th of September 2013, the youths of Uniarho community where taken through a practical training section by Valentine Eku. The youths were taught how to bolt the solar panels to the constructed PV support. After which they were made to connect the solar panels that have been arranged and bolted on the support in series that is, positive terminal on one panel to negative terminal on the other panel. This was done for the four panels in each solar array. The panels were installed successfully with the direction of the consultant.

CREDC/ECREEE-Solar Project [Page | 12 ]

Sideview of the Greenhouse CREDC Staff working inside the Greenhouse

The youths were made to install the indoor and outdoor lamps for the green house. They were directed on how to earth the green house to protect the equipment and the solar panels from destruction by lightning. The charge controller was mounted on the equipment rack, bolted and this was followed by the mounting of the inverter. Each component of the solar system like the charge controller and the solar panel were connected to a circuit breaker.