Rockefeller Foundation, Bezos-backed Group Eyes 10,000mw Fix for Nigeria’s Fragile Power Sector
A solar mini-grid initiative, spearheaded by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund, aims to address Nigeria’s persistent power supply issues, as reported by Bloomberg. This project seeks to provide a sustainable energy solution for the country, which struggles with erratic electricity availability that hampers productivity.
Established in 2021, GEAPP has already facilitated the construction of Nigeria’s first interconnected mini-grid, with two additional facilities underway and funding secured for a fourth. These mini-grids, managed by private developers, are designed to augment the limited hours of electricity supplied by the national grid, allowing households and businesses to maintain continuous power.
GEAPP’s goal is to establish pilot projects in each of Nigeria’s regions covered by the 11 power distribution companies, with aspirations to develop up to 10 gigawatts of mini-grid capacity. Muhammad Wakil, the country delivery lead for GEAPP, highlighted the necessity of numerous such projects across Nigeria to eradicate energy poverty. “We have shown it’s a viable business model,” he noted during a site visit in Ogun State.
With approximately 86 million Nigerians lacking access to electricity—making it the country with the highest number of people without power—reliability and supply remain critical issues. The national grid currently delivers about 4,000 megawatts, significantly lower than South Africa’s output for a smaller population.
Fauzia Okediji, a utility innovation manager at GEAPP, emphasized the urgent need for reliable energy in underserved communities to support homes and businesses. GEAPP’s Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (DART) programme aims to reduce solar equipment costs by consolidating the demands of multiple developers, providing a financing facility of $25 million that allows developers to import necessary equipment.
By leveraging government policies that enable mini-grids to coexist with the national grid, GEAPP is enhancing its support for developers through grants, loans, and technical assistance. The success of this initiative has inspired the World Bank to pledge $130 million to develop similar projects.
The mini-grid project in Ogun State, built by local company Darway Coast, is expected to provide the community with all-day electricity by year-end, enhancing productivity and quality of life. Community leader Aleem Oloyede expressed optimism about the new solar initiative, noting the positive impact it will have on local businesses, health centers, and schools.
The DART programme is also considered a potential model for the World Bank and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. Wakil pointed out that the lessons learned in Nigeria could be replicated across at least 15 African countries as part of this ambitious goal.