In an attempt to assist in alleviating electricity infrastructure problems in Nigeria, Samsung has developed a solar power generator.
The company said the portable power solution would be value-adding in remote areas of Africa and analysts said the solution would be vital for electricity-starved rural Nigeria.
A statement on Wednesday said, “It is no secret that remote rural areas experience problems with power supply – often electricity is not available or the power supply takes the form of a diesel- or petrol-driven generator. These options are expensive to purchase and maintain.
“As part of its drive towards providing Built for Africa products, today at the 2013 Samsung Africa Forum, Samsung announced the development of an alternative that will provide easy power accessibility at an affordable price and that does not require the use of non-renewable resources for its operation.”
According to the Head, Business to Government/Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics Africa, Mr. Ntutule Tshenye, the Samsung solar power generator, equivalent to a 15 KVA diesel generator, capitalises on the one resource that Africa has an abundance of – sunlight.
He said, “By harnessing the sun’s energy, we are able to provide the African continent with an extremely affordable power source, characterised by an environmentally-friendly footprint.”
“The Samsung Solar Power Generator forms one important component in Samsung’s broader business enabler solution offering, which is naturally a plausible option for outlying areas, where power supply is absent or intermittent,” he said.
As well as the benefits provided by implementing a green energy source, the generator can provide power for up to eight years without any additional maintenance. It is a reliable power solution with a lifespan of up to 25 years.
Additionally, the generator is cost effective. From a pricing point of view, return on investment can be recouped in just 30 months compared to similar diesel generators, which require ongoing maintenance and support.
“This product is ideal for any facility where alternative energy sources are required,” Tshenye said.
He said, “So for example, we can now power Samsung products in rural areas. A smart school for example or perhaps a community centre with LED lighting and technology or even a remote border post, given their online access requirements.
“And if that wasn’t enough, it is built in such a way that it has the capability to allow someone to dial in over the Internet remotely to analyse the generator and troubleshoot any problems before sending out a technician if need be.
“The generator is safe to use, easily deployable to site and has very low maintenance requirements making it an ideal business and infrastructure enabler.”
According to Tshenye, African conditions are harsh and demanding; Samsung recognises this and adopts an analytical attitude in the definition, conceptualisation, design and manufacture of its products for the continent.
The solar power generator, he said, was rugged in construction and readily able to cope in the African environment. He said the solar panels used on the generator could not be affected by humidity or hail.
