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The U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria was the second U.S. Embassy to utilize clean power produced by photovoltaic (PV) panels. The initial installation in 2008 was 100 KW, however another project awarded in 2011 will increase that power production amount by another 290 KW. This will make the Abuja PV system the largest Embassy photovoltaic system to date, with a total maximum output of 390 KW. The total installation is estimated to produce 405,555 kWh per year; enough to power 37 average homes. The initial installation calculated a payback period of 4.5 years, and the new installation is calculated to payback in less than 7 years.
The solar panels reduce the Embassy’s peak electrical demand for power, as well as reduce the associated green house gas emissions. Another benefit gained by having the photovoltaic panels is that they also shade building roofs from the hot African sun which help reduce the air conditioning loads.
