Practical: Business Simulation SS2 Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance Lesson Note

Understanding the Customer’s Need

Before you pick up a pen, you must know what the customer wants to “carry.” In this simulation, our customer is Mrs. Ade, who owns a small pharmacy and a 3-bedroom apartment.

Mrs. Ade’s Problem: Her vaccines are spoiling because of “NEPA” power cuts, and her children can’t study at night.

Why 5kVA? A 5kVA system is a “Heavy Lifter.” It is strong enough to carry:

• All lighting and fans.
• Two LED TVs and a sound system.
• A refrigerator or a small freezer.
• A laptop and a pumping machine (used during the day).

Step 1 – The Technical Design

A proposal must show the customer that you have a plan. For a 5kVA system, you don’t just “guess.” Here is the standard “Recipe” we will use for this simulation:

1. Solar Panels: 8×450W Monocrystalline panels (Total = 3,600W of sun power).
2. The Inverter: 1×5kVA Pure Sine Wave Hybrid Inverter.
3. The Batteries: 4×200Ah Deep Cycle Batteries (connected in series/parallel to match the inverter voltage).
4. Charge Controller: 1×80A MPPT Controller (if not already built into the inverter).

Teacher’s Tip: Remind students that using “Pure Sine Wave” is important because cheap inverters can damage Mrs. Ade’s expensive medical fridges.

Step 2 – The Bill of Quantities (BOQ)

This is where you show the money. A proposal without a price is just a letter. In your simulation, your table should look like this:

Step 3 – The “Executive Summary“

Now, you must write the letter that goes on top of the BOQ. This is the “Human” part of the business.

How to write it:

• Greeting: “Dear Mrs. Ade, thank you for inviting us to look at your pharmacy.”
• The Promise: “Our 5kVA system is designed to keep your vaccines cold 24/7 and save you over ₦50,000 a month on petrol.”
• The Warranty: “We offer a 2-year warranty on the inverter and 10 years on the panels. If there is a fault, we will be there within 24 hours.”

Key Selling Point: Tell her the system is Expandable. This means if she buys a bigger freezer next year, she can just add more panels later.

The “Pitch” (Presenting the Proposal)

In this practical, you will stand in front of the class and “sell” your proposal.

How to win the contract:

1. Confidence: Look the “client” in the eye. If you look confused, they won’t trust you with their money.
2. Explain the Savings: Don’t just say the price is ₦2.7 Million. Say: “In 3 years, this system will have paid for itself because you won’t be buying fuel or fixing a broken generator.”
3. Safety First: Mention that your design includes a Lightning Protector (SPD) to keep her house safe during rainstorms.

Class Exercise: * Divide into groups of three.

• One person is the Sales Manager (writes the letter).
• One is the Technical Lead (chooses the equipment).
• One is the Accountant (does the BOQ math).

Summary: A proposal is a bridge between your technical skill and the customer’s wallet. If the bridge is strong and looks professional, the money will cross over to you!