"How much is solar?" is the first question almost everyone asks us, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you want to run and for how long at night. But you should still get real numbers before you talk to anyone. Here they are.
Solar prices in Port Harcourt at a glance (2026)
These are complete, installed prices: inverter, lithium battery, panels, mounting, cables, breakers, surge protection and labour.
| System | Battery | Panels | Runs | Installed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3kVA | 5kWh lithium | 4 × 600W | Lights, fans, TV, small fridge | From ₦2.8M |
| 5kVA | 5kWh lithium | 5–6 × 600W | 2–3 bedroom home, short AC use | ₦2.2M – ₦2.8M |
| 6kVA | 16kWh lithium | 8 × 600W | 3–4 bedrooms with one 1.5HP inverter AC | From ₦4.9M |
| 10kVA | 15kWh lithium | 10–12 × 600W | Duplex or office, two ACs, pump | ₦5.1M – ₦6.5M |
The 3kVA and 6kVA lines are our standard packages. The 5kVA and 10kVA ranges use the same component pricing as our solar calculator. You can see the full breakdown on the pricing page.
Where the money goes
A typical 6kVA home system splits roughly like this:
- Lithium battery: about 45%. Storage is priced per kWh, and it is the part most people under-buy.
- Panels: about 20%. Tier-one panels such as Jinko or Longi cost more than unbranded ones and keep their output for 25 years.
- Inverter: about 17%. A pure sine wave hybrid inverter is non-negotiable if you run ACs, fridges or pumps.
- Everything else: about 18%. Mounting rails, DC and AC cables, breakers, surge protection, earthing and installation.
The six things that change your price
1. How many hours you need power at night
Panels only work in daylight. Everything you run after sunset comes from the battery, so night-time use sets the battery size, and the battery is the most expensive part. Running a 1.5HP AC for eight hours at night alone needs about 6kWh to 8kWh of usable storage. Read how long solar batteries last before you choose.
2. Your heaviest appliances
ACs, water pumps, freezers, pressing irons, microwaves and kettles drive the inverter size. A 3kVA inverter cannot comfortably run a 1.5HP AC; a 5kVA or bigger can. If you are unsure, our guide to what a 3kVA, 5kVA and 10kVA system can power gives real examples.
3. Panel brand and quality
Two "550W" panels can produce very different power after three years. Cheap panels with negative power tolerance and no datasheet cost less up front and more over the life of the system. See how to spot fake solar panels.
4. Hybrid or off-grid
If you get a few hours of PHED or BEDC supply, a hybrid inverter can charge your batteries from the grid as well as the sun, so you can buy a smaller battery bank. Here is hybrid vs off-grid explained.
5. Your building
Bungalows are the simplest jobs. On an upstairs building or duplex we may need longer cable runs, more conduit and proper roof-access safety equipment. The difference is usually small and is listed separately on your quote.
6. Where you are
Equipment prices are the same in Port Harcourt, Warri, Asaba and Yenagoa. Sites that need a long trip or a boat, such as Bonny Island or Brass, carry a transport cost that you see before paying.
How fast does it pay for itself?
At about ₦1,500 per litre of petrol in Port Harcourt, a small generator burning 8 litres a day costs around ₦360,000 a month. A ₦4.9M system that replaces it pays for itself in roughly 14 months, and keeps saving for years after. We show the full five-year comparison in generator vs solar.
What a good quote looks like
A quote you can trust names every brand and model, lists battery capacity in kWh (not just "2 batteries"), shows cable sizes and protection devices, states the warranty in writing and separates transport from equipment. If a quote only shows one total, ask for the breakdown before you pay anything.
