On the bright side The adaptability of solar power has been illustrated in a series of projects set to expand Nigeria’s generation capacity in the next couple of years. By the end of the year, Total Nigeria plans to launch eight additional solar powered filling stations across the country as part of its renewable energy project, which began in June last year. Meanwhile in northern Nigeria, plans to construct the 50 MW ABIBA solar power plant have been revealed by developer Access Infra Africa together with Quaint Global Energy Solutions. Scheduled to be built over the next two years, the plant is expected to power an estimated 600 000 households in Kaduna, according to an ESI-Africa report. Additionally, plans for the construction of a 300 MW solar photovoltaic power plant is pending approval by the country’s Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Once given the nod, the plant – set to be linked with hydro as a back-up operation and one of Africa’s largest – will launch its first phase in 2017. 1 December 2015 Image: Gallo/GettyImages