The power sector in Nigeria, Africa, continues to face significant development challenges. Grid coverage remains limited, supply is unstable, and power outages are frequent. At the same time, electricity prices for commercial users have increased, resulting in high costs for power that is still unreliable. For energy intensive businesses such as supermarkets, this combination creates operational risk and cost uncertainty.
Under these conditions, off-grid energy has become essential. Solar energy storage allows businesses to secure reliable power, control energy costs, and operate independently of an unstable and expensive grid, making it a practical and strategic solution in Nigeria’s current energy environment.
SCU delivered a fully integrated off-grid solar energy storage system for supermarkets in Nigeria. The solution is built around BRES containerized energy storage systems with almost 1MWh of lithium-ion battery capacity and a 500 kW PCS, seamlessly integrated with the supermarket’s rooftop solar installation. Designed specifically for environments with unstable grid conditions, the system enables the site to operate independently while maintaining consistent power availability.
After adopting energy storage, the supermarket operates fully off-grid, with stored energy serving as the primary and reliable power source. Energy storage supplies the load continuously, ensuring uninterrupted operations without dependence on the public grid. This eliminates the need for diesel generators, avoiding fuel costs, noise, and ongoing maintenance, while significantly simplifying overall energy management.
From a financial and sustainability perspective, the benefits are equally compelling. By maximizing the use of solar energy, the system delivers a high return on investment, typically recovering the initial investment in approximately three years, with long term savings translating directly into profit. At the same time, reliance on clean energy significantly reduces emissions and environmental impact, supporting more sustainable and resilient operations.
During daytime operations, solar supplies power to supermarkets directly, with surplus energy stored efficiently in the battery system. After sunset, stored energy provides uninterrupted power throughout the night. This operating model ensures reliable performance, maximizes the utilization of on-site solar generation, and significantly reduces exposure to both grid outages and escalating electricity costs.
Solar energy storage plays a critical role in strengthening energy reliability in markets with structural grid limitations. By enabling businesses to operate independently of unstable power networks, it transforms renewable energy into a dependable, always available resource. Through proven off-grid solutions, SCU supports sustainable operations, reduces reliance on fossil fuel backup systems, and helps ease pressure on overstretched power infrastructure, advancing cleaner, more resilient energy models across Africa.