Home›Nigeria›Solar Calculator Nigeria

Solar Calculator Nigeria

Enter your NERC band, electricity spend, and generator fuel cost — get recommended system size, battery capacity, and payback period in Naira.

Your energy situation
₦
hrs/day
₦
sq ft
Your recommended solar system
6.7 kW system — 17 × 400W panels
Inverter size10 kVA
Battery capacity (outage cover)15.4 kWh LiFePO4
Outage hours covered10 hrs/day
Panels your roof can fit35 panels max
Estimated total system cost₦7,887,375
Generator fuel savings / yr₦2,409,000
Annual grid savings₦432,000
Payback period2.8 yrs
Annual cost comparison
Solar (amortized 15yr)₦525,825/yr
Generator only₦720,000/yr
Grid + partial generator₦1,140,000/yr
Link copied to clipboard

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly electricity spend and NERC band

Your monthly NERC tariff invoice shows both your bill amount and your service band (A through E). Band A customers in Lagos Island and Lekki get 20-24 hours of power daily at ₦225/kWh; Band E customers in many rural and peri-urban areas get under 4 hours at ₦36.21/kWh. Enter your actual monthly spend — the calculator uses this to determine your kWh consumption, which drives the solar system size.

Enter your generator situation

The generator fuel spend field is often the most important input for Nigerian solar economics. Most homes and businesses spend 3-10x more on generator fuel than on NERC electricity. Enter your honest monthly average — the solar system eliminates most generator run-time during daylight hours and the battery handles outage periods, cutting fuel costs by 60-80%.

Read the system recommendation

The calculator outputs system size in kW, number of 400W panels, inverter size in kVA, and battery capacity in kWh to cover your outage hours. The annual cost comparison table shows solar (amortized over 15 years) versus generator-only versus grid plus partial generator — helping you see the true cost of your current energy situation.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Spend ÷ NERC Tariff Rate (₦/kWh) Daily kWh = Monthly kWh ÷ 30 System Watts = Daily kWh × 1000 ÷ 5.5 PSH ÷ 0.80 efficiency Panels = System Watts ÷ 400W (round up) Inverter kVA = System kW × 1.25 (round to standard size) Battery kWh = (Daily kWh ÷ 24) × Outage Hours × 1.25 buffer System Cost = Panel cost + Battery cost + Inverter cost + Installation Fuel Savings = Generator Hours Avoided × Fuel Consumption × Fuel Price Payback = Total System Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Nigeria's average peak sun hours are 5.5 PSH nationally, ranging from 5.0 in Port Harcourt to 6.5 in Maiduguri and Kano. The 0.80 efficiency factor accounts for wiring losses, inverter efficiency, and temperature derating — Nigerian heat reduces panel output by 10-15% versus STC rated conditions, already included in this factor.

Example

Chidi — Band C home in Abuja (5kVA system)

Chidi runs a 3-bedroom home in Abuja. He's on NERC Band C and gets about 14 hours of grid power daily. He spends ₦45,000/month on NERC electricity and ₦60,000/month on diesel. He wants to know if solar makes sense.

Monthly NERC spend₦45,000
NERC BandBand C (₦50.85/kWh)
Grid hours14 hrs/day
Generator fuel₦60,000/month diesel

Result

Monthly kWh usage~885 kWh/mo
System size5.0 kW
Panels needed13 × 400W panels
Inverter7.5 kVA
Battery8.5 kWh LiFePO4
Est. system cost₦6,200,000
Annual fuel savings~₦396,000/yr
Payback period~4.8 years

Chidi's generator spend alone is ₦720,000/year — solar eliminates most of it. Combined with NERC grid savings, the system pays itself back in under 5 years and then provides 20+ years of near-free electricity. With diesel prices continuing to rise, the payback period is shortening every year.

FAQ

A complete solar system in Nigeria in 2026 costs approximately ₦600,000–₦900,000 per kW installed, depending on battery type and component brands. A common 5 kW system with 10 kWh LiFePO4 battery runs ₦4.5M–₦6.5M. Lithium-ion systems cost more upfront but last 10+ years versus 2-3 years for lead-acid batteries. Prices have risen with forex volatility — import-dependent components are priced in USD.
Nigeria's NERC service bands classify electricity customers by the hours of supply their distribution company (DISCO) can guarantee daily. Band A: 20-24 hours at ₦225/kWh — premium service areas in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt GRAs. Band B: 16-20 hours at ₦63.36/kWh. Band C: 12-16 hours at ₦50.85/kWh. Band D: 8-12 hours at ₦43.80/kWh. Band E: 0-4 hours at ₦36.21/kWh — most of the country. Band A customers pay more per kWh but receive better service; Band E customers have effectively no grid service and rely on generators.
For most homes and small businesses, solar + battery eliminates 70-90% of generator costs. Solar powers your home during the day; the battery covers outage hours at night. A properly sized system with enough battery capacity can go weeks without running the generator. However, keeping a small generator for extended cloudy periods or peak demand is advisable. Band E customers (near zero grid supply) building a fully off-grid solar system can achieve 95%+ generator elimination.
Popular and reliable solar inverter brands in Nigeria in 2026: Victron Energy (premium, excellent support network), Growatt (value, widely available spare parts), Deye/Sunsynk (hybrid inverters, good battery integration), Luminous (budget option, Indian brand), Felicity Solar (popular mid-market). Avoid no-brand Chinese inverters without local support — repairs are a challenge. For LiFePO4 batteries, BYD, Pylontech, and Felicity batteries are commonly stocked in Lagos and Abuja.
Nigeria has several solar incentive programs in 2026: REA's solar home systems program subsidizes basic solar kits for rural households. BOI solar loans offer single-digit interest rates for solar through Bank of Industry. SURP (Solar Uptake Rooftop Program) in some states provides partial grants. Import duty exemptions apply to solar panels and inverters under HS codes 8541.40 and 8504.40. Additionally, diesel and petrol costs are effectively a hidden subsidy comparison — solar at ₦30-50/kWh equivalent is dramatically cheaper than generator electricity at ₦200-500/kWh equivalent.

Related Calculators

🔋 Battery Bank Calculator
Size your battery bank for any load with DoD and chemistry options.
☀ Solar Panel Calculator
How many panels for any home or business load.
🔋 Off-Grid Solar Calculator
Full off-grid system sizing with autonomy days.
💰 Solar Savings Calculator
Estimate annual savings and payback for your solar investment.

Embed This Calculator

Free to embed on your website. Just copy this code:

<iframe src="https://solarsizecalculator.com/ng/solar-calculator-nigeria"
  width="100%" height="700" frameborder="0"
  title="Nigeria Solar Calculator"></iframe>