By Rasheeda Hamidu
Nigeria’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project has provided new or improved electricity access to 5.3 million Nigerians, as the World Bank-backed programme expands solar and mini-grid deployment to underserved communities and works towards its target of reaching 17.5 million people with renewable energy.
According to the latest programme figures, the project had deployed 1.046 million solar home systems, while renewable generation capacity enabled under DARES stood at 41.25 megawatts (MW) in June, compared with the programme’s 465MW target.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), which implements DARES, says the $750 million initiative is designed to increase electricity access for households and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through private-sector-led distributed renewable-energy generation.
REA reported in May that more than 830,000 solar home systems had been deployed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, providing clean electricity access to nearly 3.9 million people, particularly in underserved and unserved communities.
The agency said DARES combines solar hybrid mini-grids, standalone solar systems and technical assistance, with the broader programme targeting 1,225 mini-grids, 3,244,900 households and 236,986 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The expansion of distributed renewable energy has also received regulatory support, with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issuing the Mini-Grid Regulations 2026 in April. The regulations allow isolated mini-grids of up to 5MW per site and interconnected mini-grids of up to 10MW.
NERC said the new framework provides a regulatory structure for mini-grid development, investment protection and faster electrification in unserved and underserved communities.
Private-sector financing is also supporting the expansion, with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Norfund announcing up to $83.2 million in financing for five renewable-energy service companies expected to expand electricity access to nearly 500,000 households and businesses in underserved Nigerian communities.
IFC project disclosures show that companies participating in the DARES platform are developing additional mini-grid capacity across several states, including projects involving solar home systems as well as interconnected and isolated mini-grids.
NatureNews notes that with 5.3 million people reached against a target of 17.5 million and 41.25MW of renewable capacity enabled against 465MW planned, continued investment, effective regulation and stronger private-sector participation will be critical to expanding decentralised renewable energy access across Nigeria’s underserved communities.
