Ofetebe Community Solar Project interim report

CREDC
CREDC

ProvidingProviding Sustainable Energy in Ofetebe
Sustainable Energy in Ofetebe Community
Using Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility
Community Using Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility

Interim Report
Interim Report
October, 2013
October, 2013

The Interim Report on the Project

“Providing Sustainable Energy in Ofetebe Community Using
Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility”

The Project Implementation was made possible through the support of the Global
Environment Facility Small Grant Programme (GEF-SGP/UNDP) Nigeria and
technical support from Schneider Electric Nigeria

CREDC

2

| Ofetebe Solar Project-Interim Report

This report was made possible through the efforts of the CREDC Team: Etiosa Uyigue,
Mathew Agho, Okungbowa Golden, Ogbemudia Osamuyi Godfrey, Osazee Paul
Uyigue, Agharese Edevbaro, Esther Kir, Agatha Osajiele, Valentine Eku, Harry
Abolo, Okpala Blessing Ifeoma, Umweni Osamuyi Gloria, Ogbolu Awele Mary.

Edited by: Etiosa Uyigue

Copyright © Community Research and Development Centre, 2013

Secretariat
266, Ugbowo-Lagos Road
Ugbowo Quarters
P. O. Box 11011, Benin City
Edo State
Nigeria
Tel: +234 52 941343; 0703 940 5619
Email: info@credcentre.org
Website: www.credcentre.org

CREDC
All or part of this publication can be reproduced without prior authorization. However, the Community
Research and Development Centre (CREDC) should be credited.
The information contained in this report is solely the responsibility of the CREDC. The Global
Environment Facility (GEF-SGP/UNDP) and Schneider Electric should not be held liable in any way for
any information shared in this document.

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Table of Content
Acknowledgement

5

Acronyms

6

Background

7

Executive Summary

8

Courtesy visit to Ofetebe Community

9

Training of selected Community Youths

10

First Phase of Installation Activity

11

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Acknowledgements
We are most grateful to the Almighty God for giving us good health and strength to
complete this first phase of the project. The Community Research and Development
Centre (CREDC) deeply appreciate the support of the Global Environment Facility Small
Grant Programme (GEF-SGP/UNDP) Nigeria for their support so far in actualizing this
project.
Special thanks go to Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, the national Coordinator of GEF-SGP
Nigeria for her support. Worthy of appreciation is the acting community head Pa Edobor
for the role played to so far in ensuring that the community gave the necessary support
to the project. We also thank Mr. Marcel Hochet, country director of Schneider Electric
for his effort toward the success of this project.
All member and staff of CREDC are appreciated for their time and the energy expended
to ensure the success of this Project.

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Acronyms
AC:

Alternating Current

Ah:

Amp Hour

CREDC:

Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC)

CO2:

Carbon (IV) Oxide

DC:

Direct Current

DOD:

Depth of Discharge

DVD:

Digital Versatile/Video Disc

GEF:

Global Environment Facility

HH:

Household

ILS:

Indoor Lighting System

KW:

Kilowatt

LED:

Light Emitting Diode

LERC:

Local Energy Regulatory Committee

L.G.A:

Local Government Area

M2:

Meter Square

NERC:

Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission

PREEEN:

Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Nigeria

PV:

Photovoltaic

SGP:

Small Grant Programme

SMOF:

Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility

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Background
Nigeria’s population is currently over 160 million people but only about 40% of these population
have access to electricity. The larger population without access to electricity lives in rural
communities. Those off the grid now rely on biomass, kerosene lantern and local paraffin lamps
as their energy source. The World Bank estimates that: 780 million women and children
breathing kerosene fumes inhale the equivalent of smoke from two packets of cigarettes a day.
According to the report released this year (2012) by the National Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC), a total of 23.73 million households, out of the 28.9 million in the country,
do not have access to the national electricity grid. This means that 82.1 per cent of Nigerian
households do not have access to electricity from the national grid.
Ofetebe Community in Ovia North-East L.G.A of Edo State, southern Nigeria is among the
numerous communities that do not have access to electricity. With a population of about 2,000
individuals including women and children, the community is located in a very difficult terrain near
the forest reserve of Odighi community and borders of River Ose. The main occupation of the
indigenes of the community is fishing and farming. Despite the high level of farm activities in this
community, there is no good access road. The poor access road contributes to the high price of
kerosene used as fuel for lighting which cost 250 Naira per litre in the community. Their little and
hard earned income from agricultural produce is spent on non-renewable energy sources which
has not only increased poverty in the community but also the stress of sourcing kerosene during
scarcity. Due to the emission of CO2 gas from these unsustainable energy sources, the people
are exposed to respiratory ailments resulting from the continuous inhaling of obnoxious and
dangerous gases. Also the community clinic does not have electricity supply thereby forcing
health workers to close before it is dark. There is no access to clean and portable water in the
community. The indigenes depend on rain water and the water from River Ose as their water
source. As a result of this, the people constantly suffer from water borne diseases.
The Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility (SMOF) will be used to generate 4,000 watts (4kw) of
electricity in a central location within the Community which will be called the ‘Green House’.
From the Green House, electricity will be distributed in a 'STAR' network within a 500 metre
radius in order to minimise power loss during transmission to power an existing community
borehole (which is currently out of use due to lack of power supply), the Community Clinic and
40 Households (HHs) (which also include houses that have barbing shops, Retail shops and
Local Relaxation Spots attached to them). Indoor Lighting System (ILS) consisting of 90LED
lamps & a 12V/5AH battery pack shall be provided to the beneficiaries. There is no permit or
clearance to be obtained from the state or federal government as it will generate electricity that
is less than 1MegaWatt.
Based on average solar insolation installation of 4KWh/m2 in Ofetebe community in particular, a
minimum of 16.0KWh of electricity shall be generated daily by the SMOF. The energy generated
shall be stored in a large battery bank for use during sunset. Electricity shall be supplied daily by
the SMOF from 6pm - 10pm (4 hours of electricity supply) which will allow them watch their
Televisions, operate their DVD, and listen to their Radio set for entertainment and get both local
and international information. However, the beneficiaries will have electricity supplied from
individual battery pack (Backup power) for extended period of 2-8 hours depending on usage. A
prepayment keypad meter shall be installed in each households and Village shops to ensure
payment of electricity used/consumed.
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Executive Summary
The project “Providing Sustainable Energy in Ofetebe Community Using Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility”
was implemented by the Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) as part of
the PREEEN Project (Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Nigeria) as been
funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme (GEF-SGP/UNDP) Abuja,
Nigeria. The Project is located at Ofetebe Community in Ovia North-East Local Government
Area of Edo State, Southern Nigeria.
Ofetebe community is yet to be connected to the national grid and the people of the community
rely on candles, kerosene lamp, bush lamp, and generators for those who can afford it as their
sources of energy for lighting and other services. These energy sources do not only expose
them to the dangers of respiratory diseases but also the CO2 gas emitted from these energy
sources contributes to climate change.
The objectives of the project were to; reduce CO2 emission from unsustainable energy sources
in Ofetebe Community by using solar micro off-grid facility as a clean energy source, to increase
access to clean and portable water in Ofetebe community, to build Capacity of 15 youths of the
Community to be able to install and maintain Solar Micro off-Grid Facility and to create
awareness in Ofetebe community and beyond on the role of renewable energy technology in
preserving the environment.
Project activities reported in this report includes; courtesy visit to Ofetebe Community, the
training workshop for 15 community youths and the first phase of the installation activity By the
completion of these activities, it is expected that, 15 youths that were trained can now install and
maintain solar facility and also that 3 members of the community are now employed as Local
Energy Regulatory Committee members to undertake management of the project.

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Courtesy Visit to Ofetebe Community
On the 12th of July, 2013, the staff of the Community Research and Development Centre
(CREDC) paid a courtesy visit to the elders and youths of Ofetebe Community. Staff member
that embarked on the trip includes Mr. Ogbemudia Godfrey (Programme Manager), Miss
Agharese Edevbaro (Operation Manager) and Mr. Osazee Uyigue (Head of Technical Unit).
They were received by elders and the leadership of the community youths at the residence of
Pa. Edobor who is currently acting as the Community Head.
Addressing those present at the meeting, the Programme Manager, Mr. Ogbemudia said that
the CREDC Team was in the Community to inform them that the proposed solar off-grid project
will commence in August 2013 with the training of the 15 selected youths and the
implementation of first phase of installation activity. He used the medium to solicit for their
support to make the project implementation process a success.

At the Village Head Residence
Responding on behalf of the Community, the Community Secretary Mr. Friday Omoregbe
appreciated CREDC and the sponsors of the project - GEF SGP/UNDP Nigeria for coming to
their aid in providing electricity for them using Solar Micro Off-Grid Facility. According to him,
they have been getting promises from both the Government, NGOs and other organizations
before now but none was fulfilled but today, he is a very happy man because God has decided
to bless their community through GEF-SGP and CREDC. He however on behalf of the
community pledged their full support to the project.

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Training Workshop for Selected Community Youths
The training of 15 youths in Ofetebe Community as solar technicians was held between the 21st
and 23rd of August, 2013. The training which was coordinated by Mr. Valentine Eku focused on
solar system components, sizing of solar projects and installation of solar systems. Other
components of the solar system which were discussed by the consultant include, the charge
controller that regulates the charging process of the battery by the solar panel, the inverter
which is used to covert direct current (DC) from the solar system to alternating current (AC)
which can be used to operate our household appliances. He also discuss the use of the battery
which is for storing energy that have been generated by the solar cells to be used later when the
sun goes down.

Mr Valentine Eku

According to him, Sizing a solar system begins with knowing the energy to be consumed. This is
done by summing up the power rating of all the appliances that will be powered by the system
and then multiply the value by the number of hours they will be used per day and also
multiplying the figure you got by the sunshine factor which in the case of southern Nigeria
should be between 4hours to 4 and1/2 hours and this will give you the rating of solar panels that
will be used or purchased.
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Crossection of workshop participants
.
He said that to know the type of charge controller that will be suitable for a solar system, the
short circuit current value behind the solar panel written on the solar panel name plate should
be multiplied by 1.25 and the value gotten gives you an idea of the controller to be used.
Charge controllers are rated in ampere. He added that batteries are rated in amp/hour to size
the battery; you multiply the total energy need by the depth of discharge {DOD} which should be
at least up to 50%.

First Phase of Installation Activity
The installation phase of this project started on the 1st of September, 2013. Equipment’s were
transported to the site by speed boat through the Ose River from Owan Community in Ovia
North-East Local Government Area of Edo state, Southern Nigeria.
The Green House (where the PV System will be installed) was constructed with blocks and zinc
roofing sheets. Transmission poles (made of Teak wood) were cut from the forest and used as
electric poles. The transmission network which is made up of three distribution cables were
connected from the Green House to different locations in the Community to power different
electrical equipment such as the Community borehole.

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Youth lifting up solar array
Mounting of solar panels was the next task and this was done by bolting each of the 20 units of
200watts solar panels to the solar supports that were fabricated on the ground before lifting it to
the top of the roof of the Green House with the help of the community youths. Five solar arrays
containing four solar panels were mounted on top of the roof and tilted at angle of 15o due south
of the equator.

Equipment being installed in the greenhouse
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Two equipment racks were also fabricated and each had a charge controller, an inverter and
four 200Ah batteries mounted on them. The cable from the five solar arrays on top of the Green
House was connected to a circuit breaker before connecting it to the equipment assembly. A
distribution switch used for electricity distribution from the Green House was connected to the
PV system. The facility was later earthed to secure it from damage from lightning.
The next task was the installation of indoor lighting units for the 30 benefiting households by the
trained youths and CREDC Team. Each household was given 3 LED lamps and a socket with
three backup batteries. The faulty borehole pump in the Community was replaced with an
efficient solar water pump by a civil enginnering company which was contracted to do the job.

Installation of indoor lighting units

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