The interim report details the implementation of the solar micro off-grid project in the Uniarho community of Edo State, Nigeria, aiming to provide sustainable electricity to about 1,500 residents who currently rely on unsustainable energy sources. Supported by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and Schneider Electric, the project includes training local youths in solar technology and the installation of a solar facility to power essential services including a borehole and media house. Objectives include enhancing access to electricity, improving health by reducing reliance on harmful energy sources, and fostering economic activities through increased awareness of renewable energy.

1. CREDC
Solar Micro Off-Grid to Provide Electricity in Uniarho
Community in Edo State, Southern Nigeria
Interim Report
October, 2013

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
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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.
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4. Table of Content
Acknowledgement
5
Acronyms
6
Background
7
Executive Summary
8
Courtesy Visit
9
Training Workshop
9
Installation Activity
11
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 2 nd 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.
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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.
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