- Okra Solar launched Mesh-Grid Beyond, a hardware suite that enables faster, lower-cost rural electrification in Nigeria.
- Its Sprout, Leaf, and OkraNet units enable reliable, profitable off-grid power even in hard-to-reach communities.
Okra Solar has unveiled Mesh-grid Beyond, a new suite of hardware designed to help Nigerian energy developers deploy rural electrification projects faster and at lower costs, aligning with the government’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme.
The system builds on Okra’s existing mesh-grid technology and aims to extend electricity access to communities previously considered unprofitable or unreachable by mini-grid developers. The suite includes three core products: Sprout, Leaf, and OkraNet.
Sprout units serve as power hubs for productive users such as small businesses, delivering up to 2.4 kW of alternating current. Pre-wired and pre-configured for rapid deployment, they save hours of installation time and secure components against theft.
Leaf devices target low-income households, offering 150 W of AC power for under $100 per connection. The units cover basic needs, such as lighting and phone charging, while remaining commercially viable.
OkraNet eliminates reliance on mobile networks by allowing data to “hop” between households to a central gateway, which can connect via satellite or available cellular service. This ensures reliable billing, monitoring, and maintenance even in areas with poor mobile coverage.
Okra Solar CEO Afnan Hannan said the suite will help developers scale faster, increase productive use, and electrify previously unreachable communities. First Electric CEO Daniel Komolafe, a local partner, said field testing in Burum confirmed the technology’s commercial viability and ease of deployment.
Nigeria, home to approximately 90 million off-grid residents, could greatly benefit from this innovation. Okra Solar said Mesh-grid Beyond is DARES-compliant, ready for immediate deployment, and can cut required grants by half while doubling rollout speed.
The solution supports Nigeria’s Mission 300 goal of universal electricity access by 2030, making rural energy delivery commercially sustainable. Okra Solar will provide developers with training, project planning, and technical assistance for large-scale rollouts.
“Mesh-grid Beyond arrives when the sector needs it most,” Hannan said. “It’s a proven, field-tested solution that empowers developers to go beyond the grid profitably and sustainably.”