Designing a Commercial Solar System: Checklist for Facility Managers


Nigerian C&I facility managers need a practical roadmap to spec, procure, and deploy rooftop or ground-mount solar that delivers real savings. Here's your step-by-step checklist.

Pre-Installation Assessment (Weeks 1-2)

  • Site Survey: Measure available roof/land area, orientation (south-facing ideal), shading from trees/chimneys, structural load capacity (modern panels = 15-20kg/m²).

  • Load Audit: 7-day meter log of kWh usage by time-of-day. Daytime loads >50% = perfect solar match.

  • Grid Analysis: Check tariff slabs, outage frequency, voltage stability. High diesel runtime (>8hrs/day) = urgent priority.

  • Budget Target: ₦400-500M/MW capex or ₦25-40/kWh PPA. Confirm financing appetite.

System Sizing & Design (Weeks 3-4)

  • Capacity Calculation: Annual kWh ÷ 1,600 sun hours = DC capacity needed. Add 20% losses, 10% future growth.

  • Component Selection:

    • Panels: Tier 1 bifacial, 550-600W, 22%+ efficiency

    • Inverters: Hybrid 3-phase, 150% oversizing, grid-forming capability

    • Cables/Structures: IP65 weatherproof, galvanized steel

  • Hybrid Ready: Space for 20-50% battery capacity. Smart EMS for diesel/grid integration.

Procurement & Approvals (Weeks 5-8)

  • EPC Selection: Licensed Nigerian firm with 10MW+ track record. Verify NERC registration, warranties (25yr panels, 10yr inverters).

  • Permits: NERC embedded generation (≤1MW/site), state ESD approvals, fire clearance.

  • Financing Lock: PPA (zero capex), bank green loan, or capex. Secure 10-15yr offtake terms.

  • Incentives Claim: Zero import duty certification, accelerated depreciation.

Installation & Commissioning (Weeks 9-12)

  • Civil Works: Roof waterproofing, earthing grid, lightning protection.

  • DC Side: Panel racking (25° tilt), string optimization, DC isolators.

  • AC Side: Inverter room (ventilated/AC), main switchboard integration, bi-directional meter.

  • Testing: IV curve tracing, insulation resistance, full-load simulation.

Operations & Maintenance (Ongoing)

  • Monitoring: Cloud dashboard tracking PR (>80%), anomalies, generation forecasts.

  • Cleaning Schedule: Monthly dry brush, quarterly wet wash (dust cuts yield 15-20%).

  • Service Contracts: Annual thermography, inverter firmware updates.

  • Performance KPIs: ≥95% inverter uptime, <1% string mismatch, 4% annual degradation max.

Average Lagos 500kW system saves ₦75M/year vs diesel, pays back in 3 years.

Upthrust delivers turnkey C&I solar with 99.5% uptime guarantee. Schedule your site assessment today.

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