Project Case Study: Off grid 5 kw (100-Unit Multi-Zone Initiative) – Nigeria

May 10, 2026

Project Location: Nigeria (100-Unit Multi-Zone Initiative)

1. Executive Summary

Nigeria currently faces an acute energy crisis, with approximately 40% of the population receiving less than 12 hours of reliable power daily. Sungreat Energy successfully addressed this gap by deploying 100 independent 5 kW off-grid solar units. This distributed infrastructure model provides high-availability power to rural clusters and Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs), bypassing the limitations of the centralized national grid.

Total Capacity: 500 kWp (0.5 Megawatts)
Total Units: 100 x 5 kW Independent Power Plants
Target Impact: Sustainable power for 10 geopolitical zones.

1-a. Project Timeline & Execution Framework

Project Start Date: March 15, 2024
Project Completion Date: November 28, 2024
Overall Project Duration: 8.5 Months (approx. 258 Days)
Equipment Supply & Logistics: March 2024 – June 2024 (12 Weeks)
Multi-Zone On-Site Installation: July 2024 – October 2024 (16 Weeks)
Testing, Commissioning & Handover: November 2024 (4 Weeks)

2. Comprehensive Technical Design

Our engineering approach utilized modular standardization to ensure ease of maintenance and consistency in performance across diverse geographic terrains.

2-a. Photovoltaic (PV) Generation Array

Module Selection: 1,000 units of 550W Tier-1 Monocrystalline PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) Panels.
Efficiency Features: Half-cut cell technology to minimize resistive losses and improve performance under partial shading.
String Configuration: Optimized series-parallel strings designed to operate within the 120V–450V DC MPPT window.

2-b. Power Conversion & Inverter Technology

Central Unit: Sungreat 5 kW Pure Sine Wave Off-Grid Inverter.
Surge Performance: Engineered with 2X surge capacity (10kVA) to accommodate the high starting currents of inductive motor loads used in SME workshops (mills, pumps, and refrigeration).
Efficiency: 93% peak conversion efficiency with an integrated 80A MPPT Charge Controller.

2-c. Energy Storage System (ESS)

Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4).
Per-Unit Capacity: 10 kWh (48V 200Ah).
Total Project Storage: 1,000 kWh.
Battery Life: Advanced BMS (Battery Management System) allows for 6,000+ cycles at 80% Depth of Discharge (DoD), vastly outperforming traditional lead-acid alternatives.

3. PVSyst 7.4.8 Simulation Report: Project Summary

Project: Nigeria 500 kWp Distributed Solar Initiative

Unit Model: Sungreat 5 kW Off-Grid Standalone System

Simulation Tool: PVSyst v7.4.8

Meteorological Data: Meteonorm 8.1 (Interpolated for Nigerian Regional Coordinates)

3-a. Project Site & Irradiance Data

The simulation incorporates localized atmospheric conditions, including the high aerosol optical depth characteristic of the West African region.

Location: Distributed (Lagos, Abuja, Kano representative sites)
Latitude/Longitude: 6.52° N / 3.37° E (Average baseline)
Albedo: 0.20
Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI): 1,945 kWh/m²/year
Horizontal Diffuse Irradiation (DiffHor): 915 kWh/m²/year

3-b. System Configuration (Per 5 kW Unit)

PV Module: 10 x 550W Monocrystalline PERC (Sungreat Optimized)
Inverter: 1 x 5 kW Pure Sine Wave Off-Grid
Storage: 10 kWh LiFePO4 Battery Bank (48V)
Array Tilt/Azimuth: 15° / 0° (South)

3-c. Main Simulation Results

The following values represent the energy production potential for a single 5 kW system over a standard meteorological year.

Produced Energy: 7,100 kWh/year
Specific Yield: 1,420 kWh/kWp/year
Performance Ratio (PR): 78.2%

3-d. Loss Diagram (System Losses Analysis)

The simulation identifies the specific thermal and environmental challenges of the Nigerian climate, specifically accounting for the high-temperature coefficients of the modules and the “Harmattan” dust season.

Loss Category	Value (%)	Engineering Mitigation
PV Loss due to Temperature	12.4%	Use of high-clearance mounting structures to facilitate passive airflow and rear-side cooling.
Ohmic Wiring Losses	1.1%	Integration of 6mm² UV-resistant DC cabling to minimize voltage drop across the array.
Soiling & Dust (Harmattan)	3.0%	Calculated based on average particulate matter; mitigated by seasonal cleaning schedules.
Module Quality Loss	0.8%	Minimized by utilizing Tier-1 Sungreat standard modules with positive power tolerance.
Inverter Efficiency Loss	1.9%	Efficiency maintained via high-performance power electronics with 93% peak conversion.
LID (Light Induced Degradation)	1.5%	Standard for high-efficiency PERC cells.

3-e. Monthly Energy Production (Estimate)

A visualization of the energy injected into the local load (SME/Residential) throughout the year.

Peak Months (Nov–Feb): Maximum yield due to high clear-sky indices, despite Harmattan dust.
Monsoon Months (June–Aug): Slightly reduced yield due to cloud cover; however, specific production remains above 100 kWh/kWp monthly due to high diffuse radiation components.

4. International Recognition & Reference Links

This project adheres to the global standards for rural electrification and decentralized energy systems.

4-a. Societies & Regulatory Frameworks

ECREEE (ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy): Supporting the Renewable Energy Policy for West Africa to achieve 2030 energy access goals.
ISES (International Solar Energy Society): Providing the technical best-practice frameworks for Sub-Saharan solar initiatives.

4-b. Academic & Journal References

Owollabi et al. (2023): An Empirical Study of Solar PV Adoption in Nigeria.
Anane-Fenin (2025): Techno-economic viability of grid-connected solar for SMEs.
Aboagye et al. (2021): Solar PV Microgrid Layout for Nigeria.
Nature Energy / PMC: Juxtaposing Sub-Sahara Africa’s energy poverty and renewable energy potential.

4-c. Industry Magazines

PV Magazine International: Regular coverage of West African Solar Market Trends.

5. Environmental & Social Impact

Beyond engineering, this project represents a significant step toward carbon neutrality. By displacing diesel generators, the 100-unit Sungreat initiative achieves: