1. The Real Future of Solar Home Systems
NIGERIA ENERGY FORUM 2018
17-18 APRIL
Vera Nwanze, Azuri General Manager, West Africa

2. THE PAST
We can’t talk about the future without referring to the past. In some form or the other, we have been harnessing the power from nature, the ‘sun’
In ancient Greece, there is evidence that they used the technology to improve their everyday lives.
Solar as we know it today has its background in the discovery in the 1950s- a way to generate electricity from light by (using silicon) to make photovoltaic material leading to the creation of solar cells.
This discovery paved the way for what we can call the solar power phenomenon that has seen solar power edging towards dominating the renewable energy space as the source of power for the future.

3. Opportunities abound as a result of constant solar irradiance(power per unit area received from the Sun) in Africa
147 million mobile phone subscriptions abound in Nigeria
PayGo offers ease of payment
1.3m households in developing countries use solar home systems
THE PRESENT
Lack of access to electricity hinders development and growth
Globally, 1.2B people lack access to electricity
~80M Nigerians in off-grid areas still rely on potentially hazardous sources of lighting
Electricity generation is still very dependent on fossil fuels
Solar energy can provide a cleaner, renewable alternative
NCC News Update for Q1 2018

4. IMPACT OF SHS Direct and Indirect Impact
Unlike others, we provide power and not just light
Enhanced quality of life with access to electricity in previously unreachable areas
Increased productivity
Ability to work or study for longer hours
Ability to charge electronic devices and be connected to others
Job opportunities for the rural people
LIGHTING
Allows rural families to extend their work day into evening hours
Increase in study hours
Saves time e.g. no need for refuelling kerosene lamps
Reduced exposure to hazardous emission from kerosene & diesel
Transportation time and costs reduced
Small enterprise can operate during the evening
Relieve reliance on grid supply

5. IMPACT OF SHS INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION
Increased access to entertainment and communication, therefore globally connected and playing an important role in socio economic development
Improved personal communication
Additional economic benefits by enhanced entrepreneurship
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Better indoor air quality
Less pollution
Fewer emissions
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Saving time money and energy for transporting and purchasing kerosene
More efficient lighting therefore increased commercial activities (Adeyemi can now open her shop until 11pm) extended for about 2 hours from previously
Spread payments make it easier to own a SHS
Financial inclusion of rural communities

6. “Now the City Comes to Me”
There will always be reasons for people to live in cities, just as they do all over the developed world where the infrastructure is essentially universal. But today the economic productivity in rural areas of Africa is way below that in cities (and indeed agricultural productivity is approximately 50% of the global average). Here technology can be transformative.
Starting at the simplest level, solar light replaces kerosene or candles for lighting and provides the ability to charge phones at home instead of travelling long distances to get power. This has a dramatic effect on family life. On average children study up to 2 hours per night extra with solar light and adults report their productive day extends by as much as three hours. Quoting Hajia Aisha, ‘my children are now doing better in school as they study more in the evenings, thanks to Azuri. But such simple home power is not electrification, it’s provision of some basic service – a starting point rather than an end point.

7. THE REAL FUTURE of SHS
Electricity is a necessity for improved lifestyle:
Solar energy can help address climate change
PayGo SHS has the ability to reach a critical mass faster
Increasing the standard of living for rural dwellers
Lowering cost of solar panels
Higher levels of deployment
Increased investment for a sustainable market
Solar Energy and the Environment
Solar energy provides clean, renewable and affordable access to power
Trust building with increased awareness
Lots of positive vibes
Market is unsaturated and with huge potential
Encourage more financial inclusiveness
Overall, opportunities for local manufacture

8. THE REAL FUTURE of SHS Financial Future of the Solar Industry:
Solar energy market becomes increasingly profitable, therefore attractive to Investors in the face of unpredictable oil market.
Continued growth of the solar energy market as investment grows.
Import Waivers for solar panels and stable government policies to encourage solar market growth
Solar energy is set to explode over the next few years with more acceptability and provide opportunity for local manufacture and possible export within the region

9. Azuri’s Social Impact ( In partnership with REA, NDPHC & ASPNL)
The installation of solar home systems to off-grid families has significant impacts on:
Lifestyle
Flexibility
Health and safety
Economic
Over the years, Azuri's customers have exciting testimonies on how the solar home systems have impacted them:
98%
My family’s previous kerosene-related health issues have reduced
97%
My children can study more
96%
My air quality has improved
68%
I have more evening home visits from family and friends

10. Azuri: An Award Winning Company
Our innovative solar technology has been recognised as an award winning solution by numerous organisations.