Bayelsa knows floods. The 2012 and 2022 floods put large parts of Yenagoa, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma/Opokuma under water, and many low-lying streets flood in heavy rainy seasons even without a major event. Parts of Rivers and Delta along the rivers face the same risk.
That does not make solar a bad idea there. It just changes where things go.
What a flood actually damages
| Part | Usual location | Flood risk |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | Roof | Very low |
| Cables from roof | Wall, conduit | Low, if entries are sealed |
| Inverter | Indoor wall | High if at ground level |
| Batteries | Floor of a room | Very high if on the floor |
| Distribution board | Indoor wall | Medium |
Batteries placed on the floor are the most common casualty. Water and electronics do not mix, and a submerged battery can be a fire hazard.
How we install in flood-prone areas
1. Height first
We ask where water reached in past floods, then mount the inverter and batteries well above that line. On an upstairs building, the equipment goes on the upper floor. On a bungalow, we use strong wall brackets or a raised platform fixed to the wall.
2. Lithium, not lead-acid
LiFePO4 batteries are compact and wall-mountable, which makes height easier. Flooded lead-acid batteries are heavy, sit on the floor and contain acid that should never mix with flood water.
3. One clear isolator
A labelled isolator switch and battery breaker in an easy-to-reach, high position so anyone in the house can shut the system down fast.
4. Sealed cable entries
Every cable entering the building is in conduit, with sealed entry points, so water cannot track along the cable into the board.
What to do before, during and after a flood
Before (when warnings start)
- Check the battery level is high so you have power if the grid goes off
- Clear the battery room of anything that could float into the equipment
- Make sure everyone knows where the isolator is
During (water rising toward the equipment)
- Switch the inverter off, open the DC and AC isolators and the battery breaker
- Keep people, especially children, away from the equipment
- Do not wade near any electrical equipment
After
- Do not switch anything back on if water touched the inverter, battery or board
- Call a technician to inspect, dry and test it
- Rinse mud off the panels once the roof is safe to access
Already have solar at ground level?
It can usually be moved. Relocating an inverter and battery higher up is a small job compared with replacing them after a flood. We do this across Yenagoa, Sagbama, Kaiama and Odi, Ogbia and Amassoma, and in riverside parts of Rivers and Delta.
For the rest of the year, our rainy season maintenance checklist keeps the system healthy.
