Chinese Firm, CCECC, Secures Landmark 7MW Floating Solar Project at UNILAG

ByEditor

Jan 22, 2026 #CCECC, #China-Nigeria solar project, #clean energy infrastructure, #first floating solar plant, #floating solar Nigeria, #renewable energy Lagos, #solar photovoltaic Nigeria, #UNILAG, #University of Lagos

Femi Ashekun/

In a significant development for renewable energy infrastructure in Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has won the bid to deliver a 7-megawatt floating solar power project at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The announcement was confirmed in a corporate post by CCECC and later reported by industry outlets as a major step in clean energy deployment in Lagos State.

The plant, set to be installed on the lagoon waters surrounding the university campus, is expected to become Nigeria’s first floating solar power station, delivering “a reliable supply of safe, stable, and clean energy” to the institution on completion, according to the CCECC post.

Speaking about the project, a CCECC spokesperson said, “This award reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainable development and energy transformation in Nigeria. We look forward to working closely with university authorities and stakeholders to deliver this pioneering project on schedule.”

Floating solar, also known as floating photovoltaic (FPV) technology, involves mounting solar panels on buoyant structures on bodies of water such as reservoirs, lakes, or lagoons.

This approach can offer advantages over traditional land-based solar farms, including reduced land use and higher energy yield due to the cooling effect of water on the panels.

The UNILAG project builds on Nigeria’s broader renewable energy ambitions.

In April 2025, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Lagos State Government signed a strategic agreement to advance solar deployment across public institutions, with floating solar as a key component of efforts to reduce dependence on diesel generators and expand clean electricity access.

Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme, described the initiative as “pioneering” for Lagos and crucial to meeting the state’s energy needs.

The planned floating system’s 7MW capacity will make it a landmark installation in Nigeria, demonstrating how water surfaces can be harnessed for renewable energy production in densely populated urban environments.

Experts note that floating solar arrays also help reduce water evaporation and can be installed without consuming valuable agricultural or urban land.

Nigeria’s electricity sector has long faced challenges with unreliable grid power and widespread reliance on diesel generators.

The REA’s recent electrification programmes aim to address these issues by deploying solar mini-grids and photovoltaic systems at universities and teaching hospitals nationwide, with similar projects rolled out at institutions such as the University of Abuja and Usmanu Danfodiyo University.