- The USTDA is providing a grant for the conduction of feasibility studies for rural solar mini-grid projects across Nigeria.
- It is estimated that when completed, the mini-grid systems will provide electricity access to about 200,000 rural women across three states,
- US companies are invited to bid to conduct feasibility studies for the rural solar mini-grid projects under the grant.
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is providing a grant to renewable energy provider Sosai Renewable Energies Company for the conduction of feasibility studies for rural solar mini-grid projects across Nigeria. It is expected that the solar mini-grid systems will provide electricity access to about 200,000 women in rural communities across Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau states.
According to Habiba Ali, the Managing Director of Sosai, “this USTDA grant will enable Nigeria to take a major step forward in achieving its rural electrification goals and initiate projects that will make a difference to communities, women, economic development and the agricultural sector. For Sosai, the benefit of the USTDA grant is immense, positioning us for greater growth and opportunity in the future,”
US companies are invited to bid to conduct feasibility studies for the rural solar mini-grid projects under the grant. These initial works will include site surveys, preliminary engineering work, economic and financial analysis, and social economic and environmental impacts assessment of the project on rural women’s development.
“The studies will also create business opportunities for US suppliers of equipment and services in the mini-grid sector in Nigeria while supporting up to 20 MW of new solar power capacity in rural communities,” stated the USTDA. Interested US companies have until April 26th, 2021, to apply.
The USTDA is also a major financier of Power Africa’s solar mini-grid project to accelerate electrification on the continent. Under this project, the USTDA has also awarded a grant of over $932,000 to Renewable Energy Innovators Cameroon (REIc) and SimpliPhi Power for feasibility studies for the development of 134 solar mini-grids in rural areas in Cameroon.