A Nigerian man who installed a 7.5kVA solar inverter has revealed that he now sells solar power to his three neighbours, earning N25,000 in the first month. The man, who goes by the handle @ciphertoone on Twitter, shared his earnings and the cost of the solar system in a post that has gone viral.
How the solar power sharing works
@ciphertoone explained that his first neighbour used 53kWh of electricity and paid N10,600 at the rate of N200 per kWh. The second neighbour consumed 45kWh and was charged N9,000, with a small additional fee added later. The third neighbour, who joined about two weeks after the first, used 29.3kWh. In total, the man earned N25,000 in the first month and projected that he could make up to N50,000 in a full month once all neighbours are connected for the entire period.
Cost of the solar setup
In the comments section, @ciphertoone disclosed that he spent a total of N4 million on the solar system, which includes a 10kW LiPO4 battery, a 7.5kVA inverter, and eight 650W solar panels. He also mentioned that a TS Gateway Hub cost an additional N350,000. When asked how long it would take to recover his investment, he responded: “I didn’t set it up to make money actively.”
Public reactions
The post sparked a wave of reactions from Nigerians. User @Usamali19 asked: “With this how long would it take to make back your money or become fully profitable?” @OlaDeeGee inquired about the rules for users regarding the type of load or appliances they can use. @10fourball praised the idea, saying: “It’s time for Nigerians to start making money in a smart way. This is awesome.” However, @Arsens_gun warned: “Na so una no fit keep quiet till government figure this out and come for all of you. Sometimes is golden to be mute. Very important.” Others like @spythonian asked about the monitoring device used to track each neighbour’s consumption, while @altomeistens suggested creating a side hustle community for Nigerians similar to r/sidehustle. @Jiraiyas_Senpai noted: “Insane considering their total usage is less than my weekly usage. Nice way to make extra pocket money.”
Broader context: Solar energy in Nigeria
This story highlights a growing trend in Nigeria, where unreliable grid electricity has driven many to adopt solar power. Some individuals are now using their solar systems not only for personal use but also as a source of income by selling excess power to neighbours. In a similar story, a man who purchased a 5kWh lithium solar system on instalments shared his experience after 10 months, revealing that he went completely off the grid and saved money on electricity bills.
