By Faridat Salifu
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has inked two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to generate a total of 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, aimed at electrifying rural communities across Nigeria.
This initiative, according to the REA Managing Director and CEO, Abba Aliyu, is set to deliver power through various mini-grids, targeting unserved and underserved areas.
Aliyu disclosed this during a brief ceremony held at the Eko Hotels, Lagos, where the agreement was formalized with EM-One, a renewable energy company.
This followed a similar 250MW agreement signed with Husk Power on Wednesday. These agreements represent a major stride towards achieving REA’s mission to provide electricity to 23% of the 85 million Nigerians currently without access.
The collaboration with EM-One focuses on deploying interconnected mini-grids across peri-urban and rural communities, particularly in locations with significant commercial activities such as factories and markets.
These anchor loads will not only sustain their own operations but also power surrounding communities, thereby boosting local economies and enhancing living standards.
“Mini-grids are a core component of REA’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up project,” said Aliyu. “This initiative is designed to improve energy access, stimulate local economies, and foster balanced development throughout Nigeria.”
In addition to expanding energy access, the MoUs incorporate advanced technologies like smart grids and decentralized systems.
These innovations are expected to enhance grid visibility, optimize power flows, and facilitate large-scale integration of renewable energy into Nigeria’s national grid, thus modernizing the country’s energy infrastructure and ensuring efficient distribution.
EM-One CEO, Mir Islam, emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership. “We are thrilled to collaborate with REA to introduce smart grids and decentralized systems to tackle energy access challenges in Nigeria. These solutions will not only improve energy efficiency but also ensure reliable integration of renewable energy into the national grid.”
The agreement with Husk Power, signed at the Energy Access Investment Forum, aims to establish a long-term strategic partnership that sets a global benchmark for the deployment of decentralized solar power projects.
These projects will electrify peri-urban and rural communities, including markets, businesses, households, public institutions, health clinics, and schools, in both weak-grid and off-grid areas.
REA’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to provide sustainable energy to Nigeria’s underserved populations.
The agency focuses on areas not connected to the national grid, while also electrifying universities and other public institutions.
