BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
The National Grid has been the sole supplier
of electricity in the country. The develop nations have had
to complement their supplies with other sources to achieve
uninterrupted power supplies. Nations that have very little
supply have used solar as an alternative. The new energy reforms
acknowledge the need for other players. Ghana and other African
countries are using solar energy. The sun is free and we have
it adequate supply. On a normal sunny day, you can store up
5.5hours of energy while on a cloudy day you can save 2.5hours
of energy. Energy from the sun is safe and clean. You are
not buying any fossil fuel unlike the generator and any cost
incurred will be recovered in the first 3-4 years.
The modules have a lifespan of up to 20years.
We have the labor force. It will be a way o providing employment
for the youths. This is the time to go into the business because
it is relatively new.NEPA has been a monopoly. The few companies
that are into solar are just selling batteries and inverters.
If we start now we will have an edge by being
the pioneers. You can reflect on the case of GSM and MTN.
Many communities in the rural areas are not connected to the
Grid. Currently an estimated 40% f the population has access
to electricity.446 out of774 LGAs are connected to the national
grid. Installed generation capacity is currently estimated
at 654 megawatts. Eve when it is increased to 10000 megawatts
to meet suppressed demand there will still be a yawning gap
to be filled.
As at June 2002 NEPA’s revenue customer
base was 3.05 million, 83% of which were residential, 16%commercialand
0.4%industrial.From the above we can see that there is huge
potential for success for a solar energy based company. Little
or no energy is allocated to industry and commercial areas
and they pay NEPA.
Generators are noisy and also expensive to
maintain. The resultant pollution and environmental degradation
are also there. There is huge potential for this business.
There should not be any delay in the take off to enable us
have an edge in the market. |
