19/09/2025
Charging Business Plan
To charge over 300 phones with 5000mAh batteries daily using a solar-powered setup in Nigeria, we'll recalculate with lithium batteries (LiFePO4 for safety and longevity) and include an inverter. This makes the system more efficient (deeper discharge) and versatile (AC output for standard chargers or future needs), but increases upfront costs. Your original setup (100W panel, 50Ah battery, 60A controller) remains too small, so we're designing from scratch. Costs are in NGN, based on current local market estimates (e.g., Jiji.ng, solar shops in Alaba).
Energy Requirements
Phone Battery: 5000mAh at 3.7V = ~18.5Wh stored; with 85% charging efficiency, each needs ~22Wh.
Total Demand: 300 phones × 22Wh = 6,600Wh (6.6kWh) per day.
Operating Hours: 8-10 hours, requiring ~660W continuous draw, with buffer for peaks.
System Voltage: 12V for simplicity and cost.
System Components
Assuming 4-5 peak sun hours in Nigeria, 1-day autonomy, and now lithium batteries (90% DoD vs. 50% for lead-acid).
Solar Panels
Sizing: 6.6kWh ÷ 4.5 PSH × 1.2 (losses) = ~1,760W needed. Choice: 5 × 400W monocrystalline panels (2,000W total). Cost: 5 × ₦100,000 (avg.) = ₦500,000.
Battery Bank
Sizing: Lithium allows 90% DoD, so 6.6kWh ÷ 12V ÷ 0.9 = ~611Ah. We'll use ~700Ah for safety. Choice: 200Ah 12V LiFePO4 batteries (~₦400,000-500,000 each; 5-10 year lifespan, no maintenance like water top-ups). Quantity: 700Ah ÷ 200Ah = 3.5, so 4 batteries in parallel (800Ah total). Cost: 4 × ₦450,000 (avg.) = ₦1,800,000.
Benefits: Lighter, faster charging, and longer life than lead-acid—worth the premium for a business setup.
Charge Controller
Sizing: Handles 2,000W ÷ 12V = ~167A. Choice: 200A MPPT controller. Cost: ₦200,000.
Inverter
Sizing: 2kW pure sine wave (handles 1,500W continuous for peaks; efficient for AC chargers). Choice: Reliable brands like Felicity or Must (~₦250,000-350,000).
Cost: ₦300,000.
Usage: Converts DC to AC for standard wall chargers (e.g., 50 × 10W chargers = 500W load). Efficiency loss ~10-15%, so panels are oversized to compensate.
Chargers and Accessories
Use AC USB chargers (e.g., 50 × 4-port, 10W/port) plugged into the inverter.
Cost: Chargers ₦100,000; wiring/mounting ₦50,000.
3. System Summary and Costs
Component Specification
Cost (NGN) Notes
Solar Panels 5 × 400W (2,000W) ₦500,000 Monocrystalline, secure mounting.
Batteries
4 × 200Ah 12V LiFePO4 ₦1,800,000 90% DoD, 1-day autonomy.
Charge Controller
200A MPPT ₦200,000 Efficient for lithium.
Inverter
2kW Pure Sine Wave ₦300,000 For AC charging.
USB Chargers
50 × 4-port AC ₦100,000 200+ slots.
Wiring/Mounting
Misc. cables, stands ₦50,000 Local sourcing.
Total ₦2,950,000
Full setup for 300+ phones/day.
Revenue Potential: 300 phones × ₦100/charge × 30 days = ₦900,000/month. After maintenance (~₦30,000/month, lower with lithium), net ~₦870,000/month. Breakeven in ~3-4 months.
Efficiency Note: Lithium + MPPT boosts overall system efficiency to ~85%, reducing waste.
4. Practical Consideration
Setup: Inverter adds flexibility for non-solar hours or grid hybrid (use NEPA as backup). Secure everything in a locked enclosure (~₦50,000) against theft.
Maintenance: Lithium needs minimal upkeep (BMS handles protection); check connections monthly. Clean panels weekly.
Backup: Grid or a small gen (~₦150,000) for extended clouds.
Local Insights: X users in Nigeria rave about lithium for reliability in charging businesses—less downtime than lead-acid. Source from verified sellers to avoid fakes.
5. Next Steps
Budget: This is ~₦3M; if tight, scale to 200 phones (reduce to 3 panels, 3 batteries: ~₦2M).
Location/Sourcing: Urban spots like Lagos markets for high traffic. Buy from Jiji or Alaba; test components before full install.
