“Privately owned solar panels are taking over from the dysfunctional state utility in Niger, offering relief from frequent power shortages,” reports The Doomslayer.
Niger is one of the five most backward nations on Earth, according to the Human Development Index. Its capital, Niamey, is the second hottest and third sunniest major capital city on Earth. With 3,066 sunshine hours per year, Niger’s capital city gets about twice as much sunshine as European cities like London, Berlin, and Brussels. So solar power is much more practical in Niger than in much of Europe. Niamey gets only 21 inches of rain per year, mostly in the spring, forcing nearby farmers to grow drought resistant crops such as sorghum, pearl millet, cassava, and black-eyed peas.
TechXplore describes the rapid expansion of privately-owned solar power in Niger after the government-owned utility stopped providing reliable power:
Solar energy is booming in Niger, one of the world’s sunniest countries, with sales of increasingly cheap solar panels going up and new projects coming online.
An unprecedented energy shortage in 2023 proved a turning point.
Neighboring Nigeria suspended much of its electricity exports to the west African nation as part of regional sanctions against the ruling junta that toppled civilian president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.
Haoua Amadou, Niger’s energy minister, said the measure led the country’s electricity production to fall by 30% to 50% and forced state-owned power company Nigelec to impose planned power cuts that can last several days, especially in Niamey.
Nigeria has since resumed delivering electricity “but only providing 46 megawatts instead of the usual 80 megawatts,” Amadou said….
Panels, mostly imported from China, are regularly sold directly on the street.
The abundant supply has made solar equipment more accessible.
Prices for top-quality solar panels have been halved to under 50,000 CFA francs (about 75 euros).
“Even on a small budget, you can power a few light bulbs, a television and a fan,” said technician Mahamadou Issa.
