The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, a division of the Federal Government, has expressed concern over the rising number of fire occurrences nationwide that have been connected to incorrectly constructed rooftop solar installations.
Many Nigerians are using solar energy to avoid blackouts as the country’s electrical industry continues to perform below expectations. However, both the government and the public are growing concerned about instances of fires caused by rooftop solar panels.
NEMSA voiced major safety concerns in a strongly worded public notice, pointing out that many of the reported occurrences were linked to subpar craftsmanship, the use of inferior materials, the lack of protective equipment, and non-compliance with technical norms and regulations.
The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation signed the public notice, which read, “The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has observed with serious safety concern the increasing number of fire incidents allegedly linked to improperly installed rooftop solar photovoltaic systems across the country.”
“It is crucial to remember that safety must always come first, even though the use of renewable energy is highly encouraged in accordance with Nigeria’s energy transition objectives.”
NEMSA has recently released thorough safety standards for the installation of rooftop solar PV systems in Nigeria in accordance with Sections 176 (m) and 184 (8) of the Electricity Act 2023.
Only qualified and NEMSA-certified solar PV system installers should be hired, the agency advised the public. It emphasized that these certified experts have the requisite training, expertise, and understanding of technical standards and laws.
According to NEMSA’s recently published criteria, “only NEMSA-certified electrical contractors may install the rooftop solar PV system.”
“During the installation process, the NEMSA-certified contractor must have a current NEMSA competency certificate.”
To make sure the system is the right size and can function properly, a load assessment of the building or premises must be carried out before installation.
“The roof needs to be able to support the PV solar system and be structurally sound.”
“Panels should be installed using appropriate mounting structures, as weak roof construction or improper installation can result in roof damage, fire hazards, and significant safety risks,” NEMSA cautioned.
PV modules with cracks, bent frames, air bubbles, hot spots, or loose junction boxes should not be utilized, according to the agency, since they might result in electrical problems, lower system performance, and raise the possibility of equipment failure or fire.
“Maintain a minimum clearance of 0.13m between the roofing material and the PV modules to ensure adequate ventilation and cooling during high temperatures,” the notification stated regarding electrical safety. Overheating, decreased system performance, and possible module damage might result from inadequate clearance.
In order to facilitate emergency shutdown, it also required installers to install DC and AC isolators. Install surge protection devices to shield the system from lightning surges and supply circuit breakers and fuses with the proper ratings to avoid overloading. Make that the system is properly grounded, with an earth resistance value of two ohms or less,” it said.
NEMSA emphasized the need of installing batteries correctly, cautioning that “batteries should be installed in a well-ventilated, secure location away from living areas and heat sources.”
In order to ensure acceptable operating temperatures for lithium batteries, the agency mandated that a battery management system be supplied and that a suitable cooling or air conditioning system be installed at the installation site.
When installing a solar system on the roof of an existing home, it was instructed that if the system’s capacity is insufficient to support the entire household load, the installer must make sure that the load is properly separated at the distribution board, emphasizing that all solar cables must be neatly routed through conduits or trunking to maintain organization and safety.
In order to prevent signal interference, reduced system performance, and an increased danger of electrical problems or fire, operators were instructed to make sure that communication and power cables are routed independently and never run in the same conduit.
Additionally, NEMSA recommended that owners and installers maintain the rooftop PV system by cleaning the solar panels to avoid dust buildup and overheating, routinely checking the cables, connectors, and inverter, and quickly repairing any damaged parts.
