Grid Collapses: Expert Recommends Battery Service to Improve Nigeria’s Power Supply Efficiency.

Nigeria’s epileptic power supply and frequent national grid collapses have led to the recommendation of the novel Battery as a Service (BasS) to improve the country’s electricity storage and management.

Dr. Emmanuel Onyeuche, an Energy Policy Analyst, made the recommendation in an industry report he wrote for the renowned public policy think tank Nextier.

Dr. Onyeuche explained that, unlike the traditional model of energy storage, which requires large-scale, fixed infrastructure, BaaS provides energy storage solutions as a service, which means that instead of purchasing and maintaining batteries outright, users can reap the benefits of energy storage through a service agreement.

“To put it simply, BaaS offers battery storage solutions to customers on a subscription or pay-per-use basis, eliminating the need for upfront capital investment. “Service providers install, maintain, and operate the battery systems, while customers benefit from dependable energy storage without the burden of ownership,” he explained.

To increase the viability of the innovation, BaaS agreements frequently include performance guarantees and SLAs that define expected service levels, uptime, efficiency, and response times, assuring customers of dependable and consistent service delivery.

It also allows customers to scale up or down battery capacity in response to changing energy needs, market conditions, and technological advancements, enabling agile and cost-effective solutions, Dr. Onyeuche emphasised.

According to him, Battery as a Service is a disruptive force in the power industry, reshaping how stakeholders view and manage energy storage.

“BaaS has a profound and far-reaching impact, ranging from improving grid resilience to facilitating renewable energy integration and challenging traditional utility models.

“As the energy landscape evolves, embracing innovation in energy storage will be critical in creating a sustainable and resilient power infrastructure for the future. Overcoming the challenges of implementing BaaS in Nigeria’s power system dynamics will require a collaborative effort from policymakers, regulators, utilities, investors, and technology providers.

“Nigeria can capitalise on the transformative potential of BaaS to improve grid reliability, integrate renewable energy, and accelerate its transition to a sustainable energy future.” “As Battery as a Service gains traction, its impact on power industry dynamics will shift,” he said.

Dr. Onyeuche noted, however, that implementing BaaS in the Nigerian context is not without challenges, but balancing the benefits with the challenges is critical to its successful integration into the power sector.

He identified several critical challenges of BaaS on Nigerian power system dynamics, including limited infrastructure and grid constraints, financing and investment barriers, policy and regulatory uncertainties, grid integration and market dynamics, environmental and sustainability implications, and addressing equity concerns by ensuring access for underserved communities and minimising potential social disparities in BaaS adoption.