The market potential of photovoltaic systems in Nigeria

This paper discusses the viability and readiness of the photovoltaics (PV) market in Nigeria. An opportunity for decentralized sources like PV has bee n opened up by the finding that it is currently impractical for the central ized grid to meet all of Nigeria's rural electricity demand. PV is identifi ed as the most economical decentralized source to contribute to rural devel opment. The current low level of PV utilisation in the country has been ide ntified as being chiefly due to lack of awareness among potential buyers an d energy planners of its large scale applicability. With increasing awarene ss, some industrialist and government agencies las well as some wealthy ind ividuals) have now installed PV systems for home-lighting, water-pumping, a nd rural electrification, etc. This paper reviews this activity and also su ggests some other new uses. Generally the PV installations have been found to be successful, and so PV markets have been springing up to meet the dema nd. The role the government could play in fully introducing and harnessing PV technology is also discussed in this paper. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.