In a country where over 70% or 150 million people still live without reliable electricity, a bold new approach is beginning to change the status quo.
Interconnected mini-grids (IMGs) are systems that link decentralized renewable energy sources like solar and battery storage with Nigeria’s fragile national grid.
These systems are emerging as a transformative solution to one of the country’s most persistent infrastructure challenges.
On May 13, 2025, a new report released by RMI, in collaboration with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), sheds light on just how impactful this approach could be.
Titled Partnerships for Power: Unlocking Scale for Interconnected Minigrids in Nigeria, the report distills over three years of learnings from four pioneering IMG pilot projects in Nigeria.
These projects, according to the report, provide a proof-of-concept for scaling IMG deployment across urban and peri-urban areas—delivering reliable, clean, and affordable electricity to thousands.
Why IMGs matter
Nigeria’s power crisis is severe.
The national grid supplies only 20% of electricity demand, leaving communities and businesses heavily reliant on expensive and polluting diesel generators, which cost an average of ₦600–₦650 per kilowatt-hour.
This not only constrains economic activity but also imposes massive health and environmental costs.
However, interconnected mini-grids are changing this equation.
By combining grid power with local renewable sources, particularly solar PV and battery storage, IMGs improve reliability, cut costs, and dramatically expand access.
The first four operational IMGs, as highlighted in the report, have added 3 MW of solar PV capacity and 3 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage.
These additional serves over 6,300 connections, including homes, small businesses, and community institutions that previously had no access or suffered from erratic electricity.
A model built on partnerships
The key factor that has contributed to the success of these projects has been partnership between mini-grid developers and electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
This collaborative model ensures mutual benefits among these stakeholders.
For example, developers tap into local demand and infrastructure, while DisCos extend their reach, reduce losses, and improve service delivery.
“The initial IMG projects demonstrate that through strong partnerships between developers and DisCos, we can deliver reliable and affordable electricity to communities while creating mutually beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders,” said Suleiman Babamanu, Nigeria Program Director at RMI.
Insights gathered from the ground
The report doesn’t just celebrate success; it dives deep into data, offering practical insights on project costs, timelines, and operational models.
It also flags critical challenges within the Nigerian power sector, including:
- Inadequate grid infrastructure
- High upfront capital costs
- Regulatory bottlenecks
- Gaps in institutional capacity
To overcome these hurdles, the report offers targeted recommendations:
- Improve project preparation and planning
- Optimize costs through standardized designs
- Upgrade grid infrastructure for better integration
- Streamline regulatory approvals
- Build capacity within both government and private sector institutions
Scaling for the future
For Nigeria — and by extension Africa — IMGs offer a scalable win-win-win solution.
As Muhammad Wakil, GEAPP’s country delivery lead for Nigeria, put it:
“IMGs empower communities through collaboration between utilities and mini grid developers, while strengthening energy systems – a critical step toward the mission to power 300 million Africans by 2030.”
As Nigeria looks to increase its renewable energy share to 40% by 2030, IMGs can be astrategic pillar for long-term energy transformation.
The big picture
In the battle for energy access, innovation alone is not enough.
What the IMG experience in Nigeria shows is that partnerships, policy reform, and data-driven execution are equally essential.
These pilot projects light more than homes; they illuminate a future where energy poverty is no longer a norm but a challenge being steadily overcome.
As Nigeria takes steps toward unlocking the full potential of IMGs, it also inches closer to a cleaner, fairer, and more resilient energy future— not just for itself, but for the entire continent.
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