ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced that it is working on a net metering framework that would allow excess power to be exported back into the national grid for commercial value.
The commission revealed that solar panel imports into Nigeria in the first quarter of 2025 were worth N125.3bn, reflecting the growing adoption of renewable energy.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NERC noted that Nigeria’s solar energy capacity has expanded rapidly in recent years, with panels imported at a value of about $200m.
“In 2023, solar panel imports were valued at over $200m, translating to more than four million panels, with a substantial portion allocated to captive power generation. By Q1 2025, the value of imported solar panels had reached approximately N125.29bn.
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This expansion reflects the increasing adoption of renewable energy, particularly in rural and off-grid areas, driven by government initiatives and private sector investments,” the commission said.
It further explained that in 2024, the country added 63.5 megawatts of solar capacity, raising the total installed capacity to 385.7 MW and accelerating the transition to decentralised energy solutions.
As a result, some stakeholders approached the commission with requests to permit the export of surplus electricity into the national grid for commercial use.
NERC stated that it has already drafted regulations on net billing.
Given the sector’s expansion, stakeholders have urged the commission to consider implementing net metering, which would enable the export of excess electricity into the grid for commercial value.
“In compliance with its business rules and pursuant to Sections 46 and 48 of the Electricity Act 2023, which govern the commission’s proceedings, consultations, and public hearings, the commission has developed draft regulations on net billing.
The commission is inviting the general public to provide comments on the draft net billing regulations,” which are available on its website. Submissions will be accepted until September 26, 2025.