• PowerGen and Noclink launch 1.8 MW solar plant for plastic production and recycling
• Project reflects broader push to cut energy costs in industrial operations
• Nigeria’s solar market is expanding तेजी amid grid constraints and high diesel costs

Nigeria’s industrial sector is increasingly turning to solar power, as companies look for more reliable and affordable energy sources.

A new 1.8 MWp solar plant will supply electricity to a plastic production and recycling operation run by Noclink Ventures, under a partnership with PowerGen Renewable Energy. The project, announced April 9, is designed to meet the site’s energy needs while lowering operating costs.

The agreement also includes a recycling facility that converts waste into consumer goods, with a focus on reducing energy expenses, according to the companies.

The project is part of PowerGen’s broader expansion strategy. In 2025, the company launched a platform aimed at deploying 120 MW of renewable energy across sub-Saharan Africa, including battery storage solutions. Backed by PIDG, ElectriFi, Denmark’s IFU, and the African Development Bank, the initiative initially targeted 7,000 businesses, with a focus on commercial and industrial clients in Nigeria.

The move comes as Nigeria’s solar market accelerates, driven by persistent weaknesses in the national grid and the high cost of diesel generators.

According to the Global Solar Council’s “Africa Market Outlook 2026–2029,” Nigeria installed 803 MW of solar capacity in 2025, bringing total installed capacity to nearly 1.19 GW. Decentralized systems account for about 96% of installations, reflecting the shift toward off-grid solutions.

Recent projects point to the same trend. In April 2025, Husk Power announced a 1.3 MWp solar plant with 860 kWh of storage for Olam Agri’s rice operations in Nasarawa State under a long-term agreement. In January 2026, Empower New Energy commissioned a 1 MWp solar plant with 2.15 MWh of storage for an industrial site in Kano, aimed at securing power supply.

Despite these developments, access to electricity remains a major challenge. The World Bank estimates that about 86.8 million Nigerians lacked access to electricity in 2023—the highest number globally.

In this context, where grid supply is unreliable and diesel remains both costly and polluting, decentralized solar solutions are increasingly emerging as a practical option for businesses.

Abdoullah Diop