Over 30% of solar systems in Nigerian health centers fail within three years

A significant portion of solar power systems installed in Nigeria's Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are failing within three years of operation, highlighting a critical challenge in maintaining renewable energy infrastructure for essential services.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, revealed that over 30 percent of these systems become non-functional within this timeframe. He attributed the problem not to the technology itself, but to systemic issues. These include the absence of scheduled preventive maintenance, difficulties in obtaining spare parts, a lack of dedicated budget lines for upkeep, and unclear responsibility for the systems once the initial project period concludes.

Salako emphasized the urgent need to move beyond simply installing renewable energy systems and focus on ensuring their continued operation and maintenance. To address this, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has launched the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO). RAMCO aims to provide professional management for these renewable energy assets, converting installations into managed assets through a "build, operate, optimise, aggregate, refinance and reinvest" model.

This approach promises to give renewable energy systems in health facilities a clear owner, performance standards, maintenance schedules, and a defined place on a balance sheet. The federal government is also targeting steady electricity supply in at least 30 percent of health facilities by the end of 2027 through the Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative. Salako stressed that sustainability must be integrated from the project's inception, not treated as an afterthought when equipment begins to fail.

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Sustainability must become part of the project from the first day, not an afterthought when equipment begins to fail.