Solar

In the race to scale solar adoption across Nigeria and Africa, delays and cost overruns from international procurement have become a recurring obstacle for developers, distributors, and installers. From lengthy delays, unpredictable costs, and poor support, the solar supply chain is often riddled with friction points that slow down deployment and frustrate execution.

But what if there was a way to bypass these headaches entirely?

Enter local manufacturing, a game-changing shift that not only supports the nation’s industrial growth but also solves real problems for solar developers, installers, and distributors. Here’s how:

1. Long Shipping Times & Customs Delays

When you import panels, every step, from overseas production, port congestion, customs clearance, and global disruptions, extends delivery time and shipping risks. Unplanned delays of 6 to 12 weeks are not uncommon, especially when geopolitical events or global demand affect shipping schedules.

The Local Advantage: By sourcing from a Nigerian-based solar panel manufacturer like LPV Technologies (LPVT), developers can significantly reduce their shipping timeline from months to days or even hours. Critical components like solar panels can be delivered within 48–72 hours, ensuring faster installations, quicker cash flow, and fewer project overruns.

2. Currency Volatility & Hidden Import Costs

With global panels priced in USD or RMB, every foreign exchange fluctuation hits your project budget. These, along with import duties, clearing fees, and demurrage, could raise your final landing costs and reduce margins.

The Local Advantage: Local manufacturing allows you to price in Naira, offering more predictability and budget control. For locally-stocked products priced in local currency, what you see is what you pay, no hidden costs or post-order shocks.

3. Limited Stock Visibility

International suppliers often require bulk commitments without offering real-time inventory updates, a clear delivery timeline, or quality guarantees. This makes planning difficult, especially for developers or distributors managing multiple client projects and delivery timelines.

The Local Advantage: By working with local solar manufacturers, you gain access to transparent production schedules, inventory data trends, and verifiable quality checks, enabling smarter forecasting, flexible ordering, and improved project control.

4. Warranty & Technical Support Gaps

With foreign solar suppliers, after-sales support is often remote and unresponsive, and warranty claims can be slow and frustrating.

The Local Advantage: Locally-made solar panels from LPVT come with a local support team that works directly with developers, EPCs, and installers to resolve issues quickly and process warranty claims locally and seamlessly.

5. Limited Customization for Local Needs

Imported solar products often come in rigid configurations that aren’t always aligned with local project requirements or mounting constraints. Ordering customized alternatives could be expensive and time-consuming.

The Local Advantage: Local production with LPVT facilitates easier negotiation and delivery of product customization, both for intrinsic configurations (voltage, power requirements) and external features (frame types, packaging formats, white labeling). Also, local solar partners allow for staggered delivery schedules due to proximity and simplified logistics.

Local Manufacturing is Practical, Not Just Patriotic

Choosing Nigerian-made products can support the local economy. But beyond that, high-quality solar modules made locally solve real operational headaches with localized quality assurance, reliable supply, responsive support, and seamless warranties.

Ready to rethink your solar sourcing strategy?

Speak with LPV Technologies to localize solar panel sourcing for your projects and warehouse.

Schedule a factory tour and partnership meeting with us today.

You can buy the best solar panels in the world, high-efficiency, tier-1, backed by years of R&D, but if the installation is sloppy, all that quality goes to waste. This article breaks down the most common installation mistakes that silently sabotage solar panel performance and how to avoid them.

1. Wrong Tilt Angles:

Solar panels must be tilted and oriented to face the sun optimally. In Nigeria, that typically means a south-facing direction, adjusted to the site’s latitude. Yet, we have seen everything from flat installations to bizarre near-vertical setups. Even a 10° error can significantly reduce daily energy output and, over time, result in reduced ROI for the customer and a damaged reputation for the installer.

2. Shading Ignorance:

A nearby tree, water tank, or wall can cast shadows that disrupt your solar panel performance. Panels in a string are only as strong as their weakest (or shadiest) link, and without proper shade analysis, your system may look great on paper but underperform in real-world conditions.

3. Loose or Inadequate Connections:

DC wiring is serious business. A loose MC4 connector or poorly crimped cable can cause arcing, system failure, or even fires. Poor wiring isn’t just a performance issue but can lead to serious safety hazards. In solar installations, precision matters. Proper training, sharp hand-to-eye coordination, and the use of quality tools are non-negotiable. One bad connection can compromise an entire system.

4. No Surge or Overcurrent Protection:

Yes, budgets are tight. But skipping surge protectors or DC/AC breakers to save costs can destroy a system during a lightning strike or voltage surge. These key components aren’t optional extras but an essential part of what makes a solar system durable, safe, and bankable.

5. Wrong Panel Orientation:

South-facing panels maximize solar gain in Nigeria. Yet, we have seen panels facing west, east, and even north sometimes due to roof constraints or installer error. The orientation of solar panels directly affects daily energy output, and the wrong direction often results in underperformance.

6. Poor Mounting Structure

We have seen rusted brackets, shaky rooftop installations, and mounts held together by improvisation. Providing secure mounting for solar panels is not just for performance, but also for safety. A weak mounting structure shortens system lifespan and risks panel movement or detachment during storms. Secure, corrosion-resistant mounting is essential for long-term reliability and peace of mind.

7. No System Monitoring:

Many solar systems are installed without any form of monitoring or feedback mechanism, leaving both installers and customers blind to performance issues until it’s too late. Remote monitoring enables early fault detection, usage optimization, and builds customer trust through real-time data. It’s not just a nice-to-have feature, but essential for long-term system health.

8. Inadequate Earthing:

Many local installations don’t incorporate proper grounding, putting inverters, batteries, and users at serious risk. A well-earthed system performs better, lasts longer, and significantly reduces the chances of electric shocks and inverter faults. It’s a basic safety standard that should never be overlooked during installations.

Don’t Ruin Great Panels with Bad Execution

Solar is a long-term investment. Top-tier panels like LPVT’s 550W+ Grade A modules deliver impressive field performance, but only when installed with care, precision, and professionalism. If you are an installer or EPC, treat this as a checklist. Distributors and project owners must also demand strict quality control and verified installation practices from their execution teams. Because in the end, how you install a panel is just as critical as the quality of the panel itself.

Need Help Getting Your Solar Installations Right?

LPVT Solutions offers expert audits, tailored designs, precision installations, and reliable post-installation care to ensure your solar systems perform optimally, safely, and as promised. Together, we can raise the standard, optimize performance, and protect your investment in solar energy.