How to Prepare Your Facility for a Solar or Hybrid Installation in 30 Days

Nigerian C&I managers can fast-track solar readiness with this proven 4-week checklist. Facilities that complete prep work upfront cut EPC timelines from 120 to 90 days and avoid ₦20M+ in change orders.

Week 1: Data Collection (Baseline Locked)

Meter Your Reality (7 Days Mandatory)

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□ Total kWh: Main meter log (8AM-6PM vs 6PM-6AM daily)
□ Diesel: Tank gauge + genset hour meter (liters/day confirmed)
□ Grid: Voltage logger (sags <400V?), outage hours/week
□ Circuits: 3-phase vs single-phase split (HVAC separate)

Quick Wins:

• Export data to Excel (template on request)

• Photos: Roof access points, parapets, electrical room

• Current bill: Last 3 months tariffs + diesel invoices

Week 2: Physical Site Assessment

Roof Reality Check:

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□ Available area: Google Earth polygon (min 1,000m²/MW)
□ Load capacity: Engineer confirms 20kg/m² panels + wind
□ Shading: Trees/chimneys/parapets (drone survey ₦500k)
□ Access: Crane path, worker safety (fall protection ready)

Electrical Room Audit:

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□ Space: 20m²/MW inverter room (dust-proof, ventilated)
□ Switchboard: 415V 3-phase spare breakers
□ Earthing: 300m grid exists? Lightning protection?

Week 3: Approvals & Clearances

Fast-Track Permitting:

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□ NERC: Embedded generation application (≤1MW = 30 days)
□ State ESD: Lagos/Ogun clearance (14 days with agent)
□ Fire: Panel spacing certificate (0.5m edges minimum)
□ Landlord: Estate approval (Lekki/VGC common delay)

Internal Alignment:

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□ Capex approval: CFO signs off 3 financing options
□ FM team: Nominated for 2-day training
□ Tenants: MOUs for multi-building sites

Week 4: Commercial Lock-In

Financing Decision:

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□ Cash >₦500M? → Equity (38% IRR)
□ Need fast ROI? → PPA ₦48/kWh fixed
□ SME? → CBN green loan 9% × 5 years

EPC Contract Ready:

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□ Fixed price: ₦450M/MW all-in (no escalation)
□ Timeline: 90 days to commissioning
□ Performance: 82% PR guarantee Month 1
□ Storage-ready: Pre-wired DC bus Year 3 expansion

Common 30-Day Pitfalls (Avoid These)

Mistake	Cost Impact	Fix
No meter data	+12 weeks delay	Week 1 mandatory
Roof fails load	+₦65M reinforcement	Week 2 engineer
NERC permit late	+60 days grid sync	Week 3 agent
FM team missing	14-day downtime	Week 3 nominate

Your 30-Day Deliverables Checklist

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□ [ ] 7-day meter data exported
□ [ ] Roof engineer report 
□ [ ] NERC application submitted
□ [ ] Financing term sheet signed
□ [ ] FM team nominated
□ [ ] EPC contract ready to execute

Lagos Factory Result: Week 1 prep → Day 85 commissioning vs 165 days average.

Upthrust 30-Day Accelerator: Complete this checklist → we guarantee 90-day EPC start or credit your deposit.

Upload your Week 1 meter data today—get complete roadmap + savings projection in 24 hours.