Every solar developer or EPC knows the drill — you plan a mini-grid project, place your orders for solar components from abroad, and then endure the long wait for shipments to arrive. But sometimes, the solar products can arrive late, damaged, or get held up at the port while deadlines slip, costs rise, and margins shrink.
So, the big question has always been, is there a faster and more secure alternative?
For years, developers and dealers doubted whether local manufacturing could make Africa’s solar supply chain more predictable and risk-free. So today, let’s review how the emergence of world-class local manufacturers compares to the existing options.
The Time & Risk Equation
Imported solar products can take months between placing an order and receiving the shipment, often offering solar businesses little control over timelines or product quality. By contrast, leading local panel manufacturers like LPVT can fulfill megawatt-scale orders of Grade A, high-performance solar panels in days or weeks. This local production advantage gives developers and solar businesses better control over project planning and profitability, and reduces stockouts.
Speed Without Sacrificing Standards
In the solar market, importing doesn’t always mean better. Falsified specs, inferior components, and frustrating shipping delays have burned many local developers. With local manufacturing, companies can inspect and verify quality firsthand before committing.
Inside LPVT’s 200MW solar panel factory in Lagos, every PV module is engineered with advanced monocrystalline (PERC/TOPCon) technology and backed by a 25-year performance warranty, fully claimable in Nigeria. As REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu noted during a recent visit, “The level of efficiency, automation, and quality control LPVT has put in place ensures that the panels can compete globally.”
Powering National Infrastructures
Beyond private projects, local solar manufacturing is energizing public infrastructure. A standout example is the upcoming deployment of smart, off-grid police stations, a collaboration between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, powered by LPVT’s locally made solar panels.
Mohammed Sheidu, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, shared the impression below during the factory tour: “What made me come for this visit was to actually take a look at the panels coming out of this factory. I have been quite impressed, quality-wise, to see what LPVT is doing here. This is world standard.”
More Uptime. More Confidence.
With global-standard solar factories like LPVT operating in Africa, solar businesses no longer have to endure long procurement delays or uncertain quality for solar panels. Local sourcing now means faster delivery, verified specs, dependable support, and long-term performance right from Africa. As LPVT Chairman Nzan Ogbe puts it, “What we are doing here is more than production. It’s about creating affordable and scalable opportunities for energy access.”
Across Africa, the future of faster, more efficient solar projects is already here, and they are proudly made in Nigeria.