Nigeria has awarded its first floating solar power project, a 7-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic plant to be installed near the University of Lagos, marking a small but symbolic step in efforts to expand renewable energy capacity in Africa’s most populous country.
The project was awarded through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), which oversees off-grid and institutional power programmes, to the Nigerian subsidiary of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The plant will be installed on water bodies adjacent to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) campus in southwest Nigeria and is expected to supply electricity directly to the institution. CCECC described the project as Nigeria’s first floating solar power facility, though it did not disclose the contract value, financing structure or construction timeline.
Floating solar technology involves installing photovoltaic panels on reservoirs, lakes or other artificial water bodies, allowing power generation without competing for land. Proponents say the technology can reduce evaporation and improve panel efficiency due to cooling effects from the water surface.
Nigeria’s power sector remains under strain, with chronic supply shortages and heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Despite having an installed generation capacity of about 14,000 MW, the country typically produces only between 4,000 and 6,000 MW, according to data from the Nigeria System Operator and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Limited generation is compounded by transmission constraints and distribution losses, leaving many households and businesses dependent on private generators. World Bank data show that just over 61% of Nigerians had access to electricity in 2023, with reliability varying widely across regions.
In that context, solar power has been expanding, though it still accounts for a small share of the national energy mix. The Africa Solar Industry Association estimates that Nigeria added 63.5 MW of solar capacity in 2024, bringing cumulative installed capacity to about 385.7 MW.
Rising demand for solar equipment also reflects growing interest in alternative power sources. Data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics published in October 2025 showed that solar panel imports increased by more than 17% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier.
The floating solar project aligns with broader government efforts to promote renewable energy and decentralised power solutions, particularly for public institutions such as universities, hospitals and government facilities. The REA has previously supported solar mini-grids and hybrid systems in rural and underserved areas.
Floating solar remains an emerging technology in Africa but is gaining attention as countries seek to diversify power generation and mitigate climate-related risks. In the Seychelles, a floating solar project was launched in late 2025 to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Zambia has also explored floating solar since 2023 as a way to offset declining hydropower output linked to low water levels.
In North Africa, Morocco began testing its first floating solar plant in August 2025 at the Oued Rmel dam. The project, designed to reach a capacity of 13 MW, uses hundreds of floating platforms to support tens of thousands of solar panels. Ghana inaugurated a 5-MW floating solar plant on the Black Volta River in April 2025.
According to the Solarize Africa Market Report 2023 published by Germany’s Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft, Africa has the world’s strongest potential for floating solar power due to its high solar irradiation and extensive network of reservoirs and artificial water bodies.
For Nigeria, analysts say the impact of the 7-MW project will be modest in national terms but could serve as a pilot for wider deployment, particularly if it demonstrates technical reliability and cost effectiveness in local conditions.
