Question 1

How many solar panels do I need for my home in Nigeria or Africa?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your daily energy consumption. Use the Load Calculator to add all your appliances and hours of use. A typical Nigerian home running fans, TVs, and a fridge uses 3 to 8 kWh per day, requiring 4 to 12 panels of 400W each in Lagos (4.8 peak sun hours). Northern cities like Kano, Sokoto, Aswan in Egypt, or Tamale in Ghana need fewer panels because they receive more daily sunlight.

Question 2

What inverter size do I need for my solar system in Nigeria or Africa?

Accepted Answer

Your inverter must handle the peak surge of all inductive loads (fans, ACs, fridges, pumps) running simultaneously. A 1HP AC alone surges to 3,600W at startup. Add all your inductive surges plus running loads, then add a 20% safety margin. Most Nigerian homes with a fridge, fans, and lights need at least a 3kVA pure sine wave inverter.

Question 3

How long will my battery last on solar in Nigeria?

Accepted Answer

Use the Battery Runtime calculator on this page. A 200Ah 12V battery (1.92 kWh usable at 80% DOD) powering a fan at 65W, a TV at 60W, and 4 LED bulbs at 36W totals 161W and will last approximately 12 hours. For 24V or 48V systems with LiFePO4 batteries, runtime doubles or quadruples for the same Ah rating.

Question 4

Is solar cheaper than a generator in Nigeria?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most cases within 2 to 4 years. A generator consuming 2 litres of petrol per day at 1,100 naira per litre costs 66,000 naira per month or 792,000 naira per year, plus maintenance. A properly sized solar system typically costs 600,000 to 2,000,000 naira upfront with near-zero running costs. The Savings vs Generator calculator on this page shows your exact payback period.

Question 5

Which African cities get the most sunlight for solar energy?

Accepted Answer

Northern Africa leads: Aswan in Egypt receives 8.0 peak sun hours daily, the highest in Africa. Timbuktu in Mali and Sokoto in Nigeria reach 7.5h. Bamako, Mali and Kano, Nigeria reach 6.5h. Southern and East African cities like Johannesburg (5.5h), Nairobi (5.5h), and Harare (5.8h) are also excellent for solar. Coastal West African cities like Lagos and Douala are lowest at 4.5 to 4.8h but remain highly viable for solar investment.

Question 6

How much CO2 does switching from a generator to solar save?

Accepted Answer

Every litre of petrol burned in a generator releases approximately 2.31 kg of CO2 (diesel: 2.68 kg). A household burning 2 litres per day generates roughly 1,687 kg of CO2 per year. Going solar eliminates that entirely. Use the CO2 Impact calculator on this page to see your exact savings in tonnes, equivalent trees planted, and car kilometres not driven.

Solar Power Calculator