- Nigeria’s government mandates that electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) procure a minimum of 5% of their current energy from renewable sources.
- Significant funding initiatives, including a $500 million investment platform and a $750 million World Bank facility, are launched to support renewable energy projects and infrastructure development across Nigeria.
Nigeria has mandated that electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) meet a minimum 5% requirement for clean energy. This directive, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), underscores the government’s commitment to scaling up renewable and distributed energy resources nationwide.
Addressing stakeholders at the national summit on “Accelerated Scale-up of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources in Nigeria” in Abuja, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu emphasised integrating renewable energy into Nigeria’s power supply mix. The government aims to achieve 30 gigawatts of power capacity by 2030, with 30% sourced from renewables.
Adelabu highlighted various initiatives, including the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (NETP), alongside funding programs such as the $500 million Renewables Investment Platform for Limitless Energy (RIPLE) by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and the World Bank’s $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) facility.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to enhance grid reliability and transmission capacity through projects like the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and the commissioning of the Zungeru hydropower plant. Initiatives like the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) are set to deploy 23 mini-grids across 11 states, benefiting over 138,000 Nigerians.
The Chairman of NERC, Sanusi Garba, emphasised aligning these efforts with sustainable power sector goals, stressing the importance of distributed energy sources in ensuring reliable electricity access, particularly in rural communities.
The summit brought together key stakeholders to explore strategies, regulations, and financing options to advance Nigeria’s renewable energy agenda. It reflected a concerted effort to overcome longstanding challenges and drive economic growth through sustainable energy solutions.