What it costs to install solar in Nigeria today

When Juwon Adesanya, a Lagos resident, installed a solar system on his home in August last year for about N1 million, he was joining a wave of Nigerians making one of the most consequential financial decisions of their lives.

The system now powers almost everything in his house, the television, charging points, the lights, with only a fridge and outdoor security lights remaining on the grid.

“I spend more time fixing the generator than fixing phones,” said one small business owner in northern Nigeria who made a similar switch, summing up the frustration that has turned solar from a luxury into a necessity across the country.

That frustration has a price tag. Nigeria’s national grid collapsed more than ten times in 2024, and roughly 40 percent of the country’s 230 million people remain entirely off-grid.

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Meanwhile, the removal of fuel subsidies has caused the cost of running a petrol generator, the longstanding stopgap for households and businesses, to soar. The result is the fastest solar adoption in Africa.

Nigeria installed 803 megawatts of new solar capacity in 2025, a rise of 141 percent on the previous year, making it Africa’s second-largest solar market behind South Africa, according to the Global Solar Council’s Africa Market Outlook published in February 2026.

Nigeria’s cumulative solar capacity reached nearly 1.19 gigawatts by the end of last year, up from around 385 MW in 2024. Crucially, around 96 percent of that installed capacity is off-grid, distributed systems such as rooftop panels, home solar kits and commercial installations, a direct reflection of how chronically unreliable the national grid has become.

The country now accounts for nearly 80 percent of West Africa’s solar additions. Battery storage has grown even faster, rising roughly 305 percent in a year, from around 10 megawatt-hours to 40.6 MWh, as consumers seek round-the-clock power rather than daytime-only solar generation. The Nigerian Renewable Energy Market is projected to grow from 4.51 gigawatts in 2026 to 14.07 gigawatts by 2031, according to industry analysts Mordor Intelligence.

Solar installation prices in Nigeria span an enormous range depending on system size, component quality and location.

Because roughly 95 percent of panels are imported, mostly from China, prices move with the naira’s exchange rate and are sensitive to global raw material costs, including silver and aluminium. Despite those pressures, prices have remained relatively stable in recent months, with some premium products even becoming cheaper as global module prices continue to fall.

Read also: Nigeria’s power math flips as solar becomes cheaper than grid

Here is what buyers can expect to pay in early 2026:

Entry-level home system (1–2 kVA). Suitable for lights, fans, televisions and laptop charging. Total installed cost: N850,000 –N1.2 million. This is the system tier most commonly purchased by middle-income urban households seeking relief from generator dependency.

Mid-range home system (3–4 kVA). Handles refrigerators, water pumps and a small air conditioner. Total installed cost: N2–N3 million. For a standard three-bedroom flat, which typically requires a 3.5–5 kVA system using six to ten 550-watt panels, this is the most common specification.

Large home or small business system (5–8 kVA). Runs multiple air conditioners and heavy appliances across a full duplex. Total installed cost: N3.5–N5.5 million.

Commercial system (10 kW and above). Suitable for larger businesses and commercial properties. Cost: N10 million–N50 million or more.

Understanding where the money goes helps buyers avoid being overcharged and make smarter choices about where to economise.

Solar panels represent roughly 25–30 percent of total system cost. Individual panel prices range from N45,000 to N250,000 depending on wattage and technology. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels, now the market standard, cost N60,000–N250,000 per unit, while polycrystalline alternatives run N25,000–N150,000.

Read also: Nigerian estates turn to solar to lure homebuyers tired of darkness

In 2026, N-Type TOPCon panels have become the preferred choice for professional installations, costing about 20 percent more than older monocrystalline models but producing around 30 percent more energy in hot conditions, a meaningful advantage in Nigeria’s climate. Dominant brands in the Nigerian market include Jinko, Canadian Solar, Trina, and LonGi, all of which carry 25-year performance warranties.

The inverter is arguably the most critical single component, representing 20–25 percent of system cost. Premium brands such as Growatt, SMA and Fronius command higher prices but offer superior reliability and efficiency over cheaper alternatives.

Battery storage is the largest cost driver, typically accounting for 35–45 percent of total investment. Lead-acid batteries are cheaper upfront but last only three to five years; lithium-ion options range from N1.15 million to N6 million depending on capacity, but last eight to ten years or more. Though lithium batteries cost three to four times more at the outset, most solar professionals now recommend them as the more economical long-term choice, particularly for round-the-clock power needs.

Charge controllers, mounting systems, wiring and installation together add N330,000–N1.55 million, depending on roof type (concrete roofs are cheapest to work with; corrugated iron requires reinforcement), system complexity and location. Professional installation alone runs N150,000–N800,000.

Dipo Oladehinde is a skilled energy analyst with experience across Nigeria's energy sector alongside relevant know-how about Nigeria’s macro economy.

He provides a blend of market intelligence, financial analysis, industry insight, micro and macro-level analysis of a wide range of local and international issues as well as informed technical rudiments for policy-making and private directions.

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