Report: 200m Batteries Needed in Nigeria’s Solar Sub-sector

A new report on responsible storage battery usage and management in Nigeria’s solar photovoltaic (PV) power sector has revealed that the country will need about 200 million batteries over the next 20 years to meet the 30,000 megawatts (MW) clean electricity target in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Tagged ‘Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the Nigerian Battery Sector: A Battery Stewardship Programme for the Solar Mini Grid and Renewable Energy Sector’, the report was obtained by THISDAY, at a recent workshop on used lead acid battery (ULAB) organised by renewable energy firm, Cleantech Hub.

It explained that for Nigeria to generate up to 30,000Mw of clean electricity from solar PVs, it would initially need to install 40 million batteries, and then over 20 years, the numbers would increase to 200 million as they outlive their four-year lifespan.

According to the report, as a fast-developing economy with a growing population, higher demand for solar energy and automobiles had led to large quantities of batteries entering the Nigerian market with little or no responsibility for their end-of-life stage.

The report stated that lack of responsibility in batteries’ end-of-life management has led to unintended consequences for the environment and human health caused by informal dirty recycling.

“Used batteries from the fast-growing solar industry are projected to surpass the automobile sector in few years. For every 6kilowatt (KW) solar PV installation about eight (200 Amp, 48 V) batteries are needed.

“For metropolitan residences about 24 batteries are needed, for small apartments or rural households about two to four batteries depending on the energy consumption needs,” said the report.

It further stated: “Nigeria’s solar PV target is projected at 30,000MW according to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), this would require a huge amount of batteries.

“To generate 30,000MW of electricity, about 40 million batteries will be needed initially. With an average lifespan of 4years for a Led Acid Battery, compared to 20 years lifespan of the PV panels, 200 million batteries will have to be installed, replaced, recovered and recycled within this period.”

The reported noted that while the Ministry of Power was executing large solar energy projects, mini grid projects and equally signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to generate 2000MW by 2020, it would also need more batteries for energy storage.

“This means at least 2.6 million batteries, or 52,000 tons of batteries will be installed for solar projects in the next one or two years. When added to batteries from small home systems, solar streetlight projects, the challenge of managing used batteries becomes clearer,” it explained.

To ensure that the batteries end-of-life processes are managed well, the report which was prepared by the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR), said: “In order to make significant impact, we must set a zero-pollution policy in the battery industry.”