A 10 MW solar power plant has become the largest utility scale solar farm in Africa's Nigeria to have become operational after the country's President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the project commissioned by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Developed, constructed and operated by the NSIA as its funds and project manager, the 10 MW Kano Solar Power Plant took 2 years to complete and come online in January 2023. It is jointly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Kano State Government and the host Local Government Area, Kumbotso.
Located close to the Challawa Industrial Estate, the solar power plant was built by a consortium of local contractor Eauxwell Nigeria Limited with international partners Greencells Energy Middle East & Africa Limited on turnkey basis.
The $16 million project will supply clean energy to the local industries and other consumers, according to the NSIA.
"NSIA is set to launch a Renewable Energy Platform this year, as it strives to proliferate such renewable energy projects and other solutions across the country as well as demonstrate NSIA's continued commitment to sustainable development," stated MD & CEO of NSIA Aminu Umar-Sadiq.
While this 10 MW solar project may be the largest PV facility for the country now, things need to change soon of Nigeria is to achieve its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2060. Currently, there is more focus on off-grid solar and solar microgrids to bring electricity access to people.
In June 2022, Nigerian state of Lagos said it plans to build 1 GW distributed solar PV capacity by 2030 to meet growing electricity demand with a helping hand from the World Bank (see Nigeria's Lagos Wants 1 GW Solar PV Capacity).