Reliability Assessment and Failure Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in the Northern Region of Adamawa State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1012-5697Keywords:
Solar Photovoltaic, Failure Analysis, Reliability, MTBF, Infant Mortality, Adamawa State, NigeriaAbstract
The deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Northern Nigeria is crucial for addressing energy poverty. However, long-term success is often hindered by high failure rates. This study provides a detailed assessment of failures and reliability for solar PV systems installed in the Adamawa Northern Region from 2009 to 2022. Data were collected from 38 solar PV systems, comprising 12 Solar Street Lights (SSLs), 19 Solar Clinic Systems (SCSs), and 7 Solar Home Systems (SHSs), using field inspections, structured interviews, and component reliability analysis. The findings reveal a troubling infant mortality rate, with 52.63% of failures occurring within the first year of operation. The overall system failure rate (λ) was 0.2278 per month, with a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of 3.16 months and an overall system reliability of 76% during the observation period. Major causes of failure included poor installation practices, the use of non-deep-cycle batteries, inadequate system design, and a lack of proper post-installation maintenance. Our reliability models indicate that parallel system configurations can improve system reliability from 76.0% to 94.24%, representing approximately 24% improvement over conventional series configurations. The study concludes by highlighting the importance of establishing improved technical standards, rigorous quality control during procurement and installation, and organized maintenance protocols to extend the lifespan and boost the reliability of solar PV systems in the region.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ibrahim Buba
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