Solar Energy Transformation for a Nigerian Printing Business
In the Ikeja district of Lagos, Nigeria, Chinedu Okafor operates a small printing business providing digital printing, cutting, and commercial document services to nearby shops and offices. Like many small businesses in Nigeria, his biggest operational challenge was unreliable electricity supply.
Nigeria's Power Reality: Frequent and Unpredictable Outages
In Lagos, power outages occur 4–6 times per day on average. During national grid collapses, blackouts can last 10 hours or more.
For a printing business, this creates serious problems:
- Digital printers and cutting machines shut down mid-job
- Ongoing print runs are wasted
- Delivery schedules become unreliable
To keep the business running, Chinedu relied heavily on a diesel generator.
Generator Dependence and Rising Costs
Before installing solar:
- The generator ran 10–12 hours daily
- Monthly diesel expenses reached approximately ₦180,000 (about USD 220)
- Additional issues included frequent maintenance and repair costs, loud noise and exhaust fumes, and a poor working and customer experience
The PowMr Solar Solution for Small Businesses
After visiting the PowMr Nigeria local office for an in-person consultation and product demonstration, Chinedu invested in a solar energy storage system designed to provide stable power and smart load management for small commercial users.
PowMr 10.2kW All-in-One Solar Inverter
The system is built around the PowMr 10.2kW solar inverter (10200W / 220V AC / 48V DC), featuring dual AC outputs that separate critical loads from secondary loads. This design ensures that essential equipment continues operating during outages, while non-essential loads can be managed intelligently. With a maximum charging current of 160A, the inverter supports fast energy recovery from both solar and grid sources.
Energy Storage System
Energy storage is provided by two PowMr 51.2V 316Ah lithium batteries, delivering a total usable capacity of 32.36kWh. The deep-cycle lithium design is well suited for frequent daily charge and discharge, providing reliable backup power for small commercial operations during extended outages.
Solar Generation System
Solar generation comes from sixteen 450W monocrystalline solar panels, offering a total installed capacity of 7.2kW. These high-efficiency panels are optimized for Nigeria's high solar irradiance and high-temperature conditions, enabling consistent daytime power generation and effective battery charging.
Load Priority Management
To maximize system efficiency and business continuity, loads were divided into three priority levels based on operational importance and power availability.
| Priority Level | Equipment Type | Power Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 | Critical production equipment and core IT systems | Critical Load output |
| Priority 2 | Comfort and essential equipment (computers, lighting, fans) | Secondary AC output |
| Priority 3 | Occasional devices | Secondary AC output (when capacity allows) |
The PowMr inverter's dual AC outputs allow intelligent load prioritization. Priority 1 loads, including critical production equipment and core IT systems, connect to the Critical Load output for uninterrupted operation.
Priority 2 and 3 share the Secondary AC output, with Priority 2 for comfort and essential equipment (computers, lighting, fans), and Priority 3 for occasional devices powered only when battery capacity allows or when grid/generator is available.
Immediate Impact on Business Operations
Since commissioning the PowMr 10.2kW system in February 2024, Chinedu's printing business has experienced continuous production, significant cost savings, and improved operational efficiency.
Power outages no longer disrupt workflows, digital printers run uninterrupted, and delivery reliability has risen from ~70% to over 95%. Generator use has dropped from 10–12 hours daily to just 2–3 hours per week, cutting monthly diesel expenses from ₦180,000 to ₦25,000.
The dual AC output system enables intelligent load management:
- Solar panels power critical and secondary loads during the day while charging batteries
- Batteries supply evening and overnight loads
- Grid or generator backup activates automatically only when needed
Additionally, pure sine wave output protects sensitive equipment, improving longevity and reducing errors.
Overall, the PowMr system has transformed operations by providing reliable, cost-effective, and smartly managed power, allowing the business to focus on growth rather than electricity challenges.