High cost of solar keeps consumers away – Tonade
By Olushola Okewole
Consumers are shy to use solar products because of cost but plans ahead to bring cheaper products and split payments to encourage customers.
These were the words of the CEO, Concept Technologies, Mr. Tokunbo Tonade, who specialises in a renewable power solutions when he spoke to Echonews about the experience of alternative power sector last year.
He said: “though it is more effective, the high cost of solar energy is the major reason why many people have not keyed into its usage in solving their power supply issues.”
He noted that the least cost of solar starts from N285,000 upward based on the capacity, battery and loads.
He, however, stated that work was ongoing to make available mini-solar for the people which could be folded and carried in and out when needed just like the small generator set popularly known as (I pass my neighbour).
To help people to be able to afford the solar, Tonade, who decried the low patronage of solar energy in Oshodi-Isolo LGA, disclosed that his company has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with banks to give people loan to get solar.
Despite the arrangement with the banks, he said many people were still afraid of collecting bank loans because they don’t believe yet in the efficiency of solar.
He said so many people in the community have not been using solar with only few using inverter and the battery alone in some cases.
In an attempt to make people believe in solar for their power supply, the solar master said he built a 5-bedroom off-grid solar house at Ifelodun Street, Ejigbo which has been running on solar since September 2016 with six air conditioners, freezers and other necessary house equipments for people to see.
Explaining its effectiveness and usefulness over power generating machines, Tonade said solar energy very important to reverse the global warming which is caused by petrol, diesels and fuel used for generators and other equipments.
“When we use petrol and diesel, it depletes the ozone layer which damages it and the world temperature increases. It thereafter melts the ice on the North and South Pole of the world which then increases the height of the sea making the water rise to encroach houses.
“One way to reverse global warming is to stop using fuel and take to solar but the solar is too costly to afford,” he said.
