Chinese firm to construct Nigeria’s first 7MW floating solar project

Nigeria has awarded its first-ever floating solar power project to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), marking a major step in the country’s renewable energy transition.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) will install the 7-megawatt (MW) floating solar plant on the lagoon waters surrounding the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The project is designed to deliver clean and reliable electricity to one of Nigeria’s largest public universities, reducing dependence on diesel generators and easing pressure on the national grid.

In a reaction to the project, the construction firm said, “Located on the lagoon waters surrounding the UNILAG campus, this landmark project will deliver reliable, safe, stable, and clean electricity to one of Nigeria’s foremost academic institutions.”

Solar power is receiving growing attention across Africa as governments face challenges with unreliable grids, rising fuel costs, and the need to support industrial growth. Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa have ramped up solar investments as part of broader energy diversification strategies.

For many African economies, solar offers a faster and more flexible alternative to large hydropower or gas-fired plants, which often face financing delays and environmental constraints. Declining solar panel costs and modular deployment have further strengthened its appeal.

In 2025, the Federal Executive Council approved major electrification projects under the Energizing Education Programme. The plan includes solar hybrid systems for eight federal universities to support cleaner energy in schools.

Earlier phases already installed mini-grid solar power at campuses like the University of Abuja and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Experts also say floating solar could help Nigeria accelerate the growth of clean power, especially in areas with limited land but plenty of water.

Damilola Hamid Balogun, Clean Energy Adoption Lead for Powering Lagos SMEs, told Gas Outlook that floating solar is still relatively new in Africa, but several countries have begun exploring the technology as part of their energy transition strategies.

“Ghana has developed one of the region’s early floating solar installations at the Bui Hydropower Dam, where a 5-megawatt floating solar system complements existing hydroelectric generation. Kenya has also explored floating solar concepts as part of hybrid renewable systems, particularly around hydropower reservoirs operated by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company.

“South Africa has implemented smaller pilot projects, including floating solar installations at municipal wastewater treatment plants, while evaluating larger potential deployments. Morocco, which is already a continental leader in renewable energy deployment, has tested floating solar on reservoirs as part of its broader effort to increase renewable generation capacity.

Damilola said that across Africa, floating solar is increasingly viewed as a complementary technology to hydropower, allowing solar generation during the day while conserving water resources for evening electricity production.

He said Nigeria’s first floating solar project is significant not only because of its 7MW capacity, but because it demonstrates a new model for powering large institutions sustainably.

“If successful, it could provide a replicable blueprint for universities, hospitals, industrial clusters, and hydropower reservoirs across the country, helping Nigeria expand renewable energy while reducing dependence on diesel generation. More importantly, projects like this highlight how innovation in energy infrastructure can support both economic development and environmental sustainability,” he added.

Technical efficiency advantage

Bardeson Desmond, Senior Researcher and Programme Lead at Clim Edge Hub, an energy transition consultancy firm, told Gas Outlook the floating solar project represents structural transformation in how one of Nigeria’s greatest universities powers its operations.

He said that for an institution that has long relied on diesel generators to bridge the chronic gaps in Nigeria’s national grid supply, a grid whose average availability to many institutional consumers hovers below 12 hours per day, offers tangible, immediate intervention.

“In terms of energy reliability, students and staff should expect, from commissioning, a significantly more stable and uninterrupted power supply. The 7MW capacity is sized to cover a meaningful share of the university’s base load demand, reducing dependence on the national grid and eliminating the need to run diesel gensets at full capacity during outages.

“For a campus that houses tens of thousands of students, researchers, and academic staff, that translates directly into more productive learning hours, improved laboratory uptime, and better functioning of digital infrastructure across faculties.”

Bardeson also said there is a technical efficiency advantage unique to floating solar that is often under-appreciated. He mentioned that solar panels installed on water surfaces benefit from the natural cooling effect of the surrounding lagoon environment, which reduces panel operating temperature.

“Beyond economics, the university stands to benefit from reduced carbon emissions, a cleaner campus environment free from diesel fume pollution, and an enhanced institutional reputation as a leader in sustainability, particularly relevant as African universities increasingly compete for international research partnerships that value green credentials,” he added.

Renewable energy roadmap

Damilola said the UNILAG floating solar project aligns well with Nigeria’s broader strategy to diversify its energy mix and expand renewable electricity generation. He said Nigeria has long pursued an energy transition pathway that includes expanding renewable capacity alongside conventional generation.

“Programs such as the Rural Electrification Agency’s Energizing Education Programme (EEP) were designed specifically to provide reliable and sustainable electricity to federal universities and teaching hospitals across the country.

“Floating solar introduces an additional advantage within this strategy. Nigeria faces increasing land constraints in dense urban areas, while at the same time having access to significant water bodies such as reservoirs, lagoons, and dams. Floating solar allows electricity to be generated without competing for valuable land resources.”

Damilola noted that scaling similar projects could happen through several pathways, such as universities and teaching hospitals located near water bodies; hydropower reservoirs, where floating solar can complement hydroelectric generation; water utilities and industrial estates, where large water surfaces already exist; as well as urban lagoons and artificial reservoirs, particularly in cities with land pressure.

“Globally, floating solar is gaining momentum because it can improve solar panel efficiency through natural cooling and reduce water evaporation from reservoirs. As Nigeria continues expanding decentralised energy systems, floating solar could become a strategic niche solution within the broader renewable energy ecosystem,” he noted.

Building capacity via partnerships

Bardeson noted that the award of the contract to the Nigerian subsidiary of CCECC reflects a broader pattern of Chinese construction and engineering firms securing renewable energy infrastructure projects across Africa.

He described this as a trend driven by China’s cost-competitive solar manufacturing ecosystem, its project financing relationships with African governments, and the accumulated technical expertise that firms like CCECC have developed across infrastructure sectors on the continent.

“From a capacity-building perspective, the involvement of CCECC brings immediate, tangible benefits. Floating photovoltaic technology is highly specialised, it requires expertise in marine-grade structural engineering, pontoon anchoring systems, waterproof electrical cabling, and environmental compliance for aquatic deployments.

“Nigeria currently lacks a domestic engineering workforce with deep experience in this sub-sector. CCECC’s engagement injects that expertise directly into a Nigerian project environment, and if the contractual framework is structured correctly, it can serve as a skills incubator for Nigerian engineers, project managers, and technicians who work alongside CCECC teams during construction and commissioning,” he added.

However, Bardeson mentioned that the technology transfer question deserves scrutiny. He said Nigeria has in recent years been reassessing and tightening its local content policy across the energy and infrastructure sectors, with fresh debate in early 2026 about high costs stalling implementation.

“For the UNILAG project to genuinely build sovereign renewable energy capacity, three outcomes are essential: first, a stipulated minimum percentage of Nigerian-employed labour across skilled, semi-skilled, and supervisory roles, second, the formal secondment of Nigerian engineers into CCECC’s technical teams with defined competency milestones; and third, the transfer of operations and maintenance responsibility to a Nigerian entity within a defined post-commissioning period, ideally within 24 to 36 months.

“Without these provisions, the risk is that CCECC delivers a world-class asset, returns to China, and Nigeria is left with a facility it cannot independently maintain, operate, or replicate.

“The Lagos State Government has also forged a broader strategic solar partnership with CCECC, suggesting that this project is the first node in a larger relationship. That relationship, if well-managed, creates a sustained platform for capability transfer across multiple projects over several years which is ultimately far more valuable than any single installation,” he noted. 

Damilola also said that the long-term value of such partnerships lies in capacity building and knowledge transfer.

To maximise impact, he said projects like this should ensure local engineering participation in installation and system integration, training programmes for Nigerian technicians and engineers, local operation and maintenance capacity development and knowledge sharing through universities and research institutions.

“Because this project is located at a university, it also presents a unique opportunity for student engagement, research collaboration, and hands-on learning in renewable energy technologies. If structured properly, the project can serve not only as an energy asset but also as a training platform for the next generation of Nigerian clean-energy professionals,” he concluded.

(Writing by Samuel Ajala; editing by Sophie Davies)