NASENI SOLAR ENERGY LIMITED (NSEL)

NASENI Solar Energy Limited (NSEL) is a Solar PV Module/Solar Panel Manufacturing and Solar PV Power Developing and Installing Company located in the FCT-Abuja, adjacent to Government Secondary School (GSS), Karshi. NSEL is wholly owned by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), a Federal Government Parastatal. The company has a 7.5MW/annum Solar PV Module manufacturing plant capacity. It was established initially as Karshi Solar Panel Plant (KSPP) in 2011 and later registered in March, 2013 as NASENI Solar Energy Limited at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Federal Government of Nigeria through NASENI funded the purchase of the manufacturing equipment, provision of the basic infrastructural needs (i.e. land, building other infrastructure and necessary utilities), and installation and commissioning of the equipment.

The manufacturing plant was established to evolve in three phases; namely:

  • Phase 1: Production of Solar Panels from 100% imported raw materilas,
  • Phase 2: Production of Solar panels from some locally sourced raw materials and
  • Phase 3: Production of Solar panels from 100% locally sourced raw materials (including locally produced Solar Cells).

The plant produced the first made in Nigeria Solar Panel on September 10, 2011. The aim of establishing this plant centers on business creation, revenue generation, capacity building and ceding of technology.

VISION

To be a world class Solar Photo-Voltaic Technology Company.

MISSION

“To avail the Nigerian community, the ECOWAS sub-region and beyond, high quality, globally competitive, Solar Photo-Voltaic Products and services”.

MANDATE

  1. To carry on the business of manufacturing, assembling, installation, export, import, supply and dealers in Solar PV Modules (solar panels).
  2. To generate, provide, transmit and supply solar energy in all its ramifications, to distribute, sell and market solar energy.
  3. To carry on business of export, import, manufacturing of solar panel accessories, materials and equipment used in the manufacturing of solar panels and materials used in the provision of solar energy.
  4. To carry on the business of maintaining, repairing and servicing solar power systems, solar panels accessories, materials and equipment used in the production of solar panel materials used in provision of solar energy.
  5. To engage in the provision of technical services for the provision of solar energy.
  6. To borrow or raise money in such manner as the company shall deem fit
  7. To do all such things as may be considered to be incidental of conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

ACTIVITIES

The activities of NSEL as an important player in the solar PV/power sub-sector includes production of high quality Solar PVs and Solar application products, Load Survey/Auditing, Solar Power Systems Installation/Rectification/Upgrading, Capacity Building in Solar PV Technology and Entrepreneurship. In a bid to catch them young, NSEL developed programmes and projects that bring solar PV Technology to secondary school students and primary school pupils. Such programmes and projects are: Solar in schools outreach programmes (SIOP), Student Excurtion and Solar Enlightment Programmes in schools and Rural Education Intervention project.

  • Production of Solar PV Modules and Products

    NSEL produces various sizes and capacities of Solar Panels (80W, 175W, 190W, 200W, 250W and 270W) and these Solar Panels are of very high quality and can compete favourably with any imported solar panel from anywhere in the world.

    Fig1: NSEL Solar Panel Production-line

    NSEL has also developed some light weight plug ‘n’ play solar solutions for rural applications e.g. NSEL 1.5KVA Plug ‘n’ Play Solar Home System (patented), NSEL Solar Mini generator (patented as Solar Power Controlled System) and NSEL Solar Event Generator (undergoing patenting process). Also, NSEL has developed, designed and produced a Solar Power Trainer which helps in the practical demonstration of electric load auditing, Solar Power system sizing, Solar Power System design, Solar Power System Installation and Electric Load isolation. The NSEL Solar Power Trainer is designed to be used during Solar PV Power Capacity Building practical sessions and it is currently undergoing patenting process.

    Fig2: NSEL Solar Power Trainer

    Fig3: NSEL Solar Powered Control System

    Fig4: NSEL Event Solar Powered Mobile Generator

  • Installations/Rectification/Upgrading

    After its inception, NSEL in year 2013 commenced the rendering of servces such as energy survey/auditing, Solar Power System Installation, Upgrading, rectification, Maintenace, Solar PV capacity building and Solar Power/PV Consultancy. NSEL has since executed the establishment of over 780 stands of Solar Powered Standalone Streetlight, some Solar Powered Water Borehole projects and over 850KW Solar Power System projects in many states in the 6 Geopolitical Zones of the country and the FCT. These 850KW Solar Power projects are at such places as Office Complexes, Individual Residential Homes, Farms, Hospitals, Schools and Rural Areas. Some of the places these projects have been executed are the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, the complex of Federal Project Support Unit- Community and Social Development Project to mention a few. These installed systems executed by NSEL are still working optimally after years of installing them.

  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

    As part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to her immediate community and environs NSEL financed and carried out a Solar system rectification work for the Emir of Uke as CSR and a completely fresh installation of 7.5KVA system for the Emir of Karshi. Both traditional rulers commended NSEL’s products, services and expertise in Solar Energy.

  • NSEL Solar PV Technology Training and Capacity Building Programmes

    NSEL has capacity building as part of her programmes for interested Nigerians in the field of Solar PV system design and installation. NSEL started with in-house training and have structured arrangements for outsiders to come and participate. Some of NSEL’s activities in this regards are:

    1. In-house trainings(3 series) on solar PV Power Systems Design and Installation
    2. Capacity Building on Solar PV Power Systems Design, Installation and Entrepreneurship for 20 Youths from Langtang North and South.
    3. Capacity Building on Solar PV Power Systems Design, Installation and Entrepreneurship for 25 Youths from Edo North.
    4. Capacity Building on Solar PV Power Systems Design, Installation and Entrepreneurship for 50 Youths from Katsina Central.
  • Solar In Schools Outreach Programme (SISOP)

    NSEL launched the SISOP to create awareness and develop the next generation of solar engineers and practitioners. The aim of this programme is to be part of benefiting institutions for the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) to facilitate information exchange, experience-sharing and green economy learning. The programme was launched by NSEL in October 2015 and four schools have benefitted from the training. These schools include: Government Secondary School (GSS), Karshi, Federal Science Technical College, Garki, Federal Government Boys College, Apo and Government Science Technical College, Maitama and Funtaj International School (FIS). The success of the programme has put NSEL on the national map as the pioneer company in the scaling up learning and capacity development among secondary school students in the field of renewable energy (especially solar), climate change and global warming. NSEL is working towards making the programme self-sustaining as well as revenue generating.

  • Students’ Excursions

    NSEL has continuously played host to students from various Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools who visited the company for excursion purposes. More than 15 Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools schools had been received at the NSEL complex for this purpose since inception.

  • Rural Education Intervention: Funtaj international School ‘’Light-up-Naija’’ Project

    Funtaj International School (FIS) approached NSEL to serve as a technical partner in their “Light-up-Naija’’ programme. This programme was to provide Solar powered solutions for rural schools that are far from the public power supply (Main Grid). This project involved the provision of Solar Powered stations that provide electricity for the recharging of rechargeable-bulbs shared to rural day students to be used at home at night. At the first phase of the project, two schools were selected and provided technical support for the supply of 150 solar powered bulbs (150 bulbs/school) in Kuje Area council, FCT, Abuja. FIS made a commitment for the project and NSEL is pleased to mention that the project was a success. This project has encouraged the benefiting rural students to go to everyday of the week and their academic performance has significantly improved also.

  • Collaborations, Dealership and partnerships

    NSEL has been very active in participating in all Solar energy related collaborations entered into by the NASENI Headquarters, e.g. Hydroform, Multi-Purpose Renewable Energy (MPREE) etc. NSEL has also received numerous applications from several companies expressing interest to become partners or distributors of NSEL products. These companies are expected to promote, and sell NSEL products which will expand the market horizon for NSEL. Other organisations have expressed interest in creating business partnerships with NSEL in order to attract international grants and project awards in favor of NSEL.

ACHIEVEMENTS

As a result of the activities of NSEL several achievements have been made and they are stated below

  1. NSEL now has been issued MANCAP certification for her Solar Panels/PV Modules by SON.
  2. Efforts by NASENI and the Federal Government are in top-gear towards the commencement of local production of Solar Cells.
  3. NSEL has since 2015 increased the total solar PV power system capacity it has installed from 45kW to 850kW.
  4. NSEL has since 2015 trained Nigerian Youths on Solar PV Technology and Entrepreneurship from 20 to 115 youths
  5. 12 NSEL staff have been supported to build capacities in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration, Computer Hardware, Health and Safety, Access control and card lock.
  6. NSEL has grown from a company that as a result of lack of raw materials stops its production activities to a company that is always having raw materials in stock for solar panels production at any time.
  7. All the production equipment at NSEL factory floor are always repaired by NSEL technical staff (without any external assistance) and these equipment always perform well after the repair
  8. NSEL has reduced the consumption of diesel from 200litres per day during production activities to 67litres per day through the introduction of solar power in its power supply mix.
  9. NSEL is currently increasing its Solar PV Modules production capacity to triple.
  10. NSEL in last 20 months had taken delivery of 3 state-of-the-art Solar PV Module Production equipment through the timely intervention of NASENI Headquarters.

PRAYER

  1. Patronage

    Currently NSEL only does batch instead of continuous production due to inconsistent patronage, while the market is being flooded with imported substandard solar panels. Considering the local content policy and related guidelines (Executive order 5) for ease of doing business, the Federal Government needs to employ all Federal institutions to patronise NSEL and also advise State Governments to give NSEL the first choice in the procurement of Solar PV Modules (Solar Panels). With this, more local jobs will be created for the benefits of our youths and the nation at large.