How Solar Nigeria Programme is providing clean energy for poor communities

There seems to be a rising Interest in Nigeria’s Off-Grid Solar Market as solar power is gradually becoming most preferred alternative electricity source to rural communities, thanks to recent developments by Solar Nigeria Programme (SNP).
The programme funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) is set up to improve the welfare outcomes of the currently underserved communities in Lagos state and Northern Nigeria by making a significant financial contribution towards the solar power electrification of public institutions such as schools and hospitals.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and home to the continent’s largest population. The national grid is woefully behind the needs of the population, who, especially in the commercial capital Lagos, largely generate their electricity with small petrol and diesel generators.
Using four components such as social, consumer, commercial, government, SNP which is also the largest solar programme in Nigeria have achieved rapid market development and fundamentally transformed off-grid solar markets in Nigeria.

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Under the social component, SNP supported the installation solar at schools and health centres in conjunction with state governments and also played an influential role in the creation of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Energizing Education programme subsequently funded by the World Bank to power universities.

For instance, in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, the program electrified 175 schools and 11 clinics delivering electricity to 920,000 beneficiaries; in Kaduna, 34 primary health centers were electrified benefiting 260,000 beneficiaries while in Borno state, the solar pilot launched electrifying 3 hospitals with 92,000 beneficiaries.
Concerning the consumer component, the SNP influenced dramatic changes in the federal government’s approach through the establishment of a robust public-private partnership.

The SNP supported the development of the largest off-grid energy access programme ever funded by the World Bank through a $350million rural electrification project and another $200million from Arica’s Development Bank.
Also, SNP funded reform champion’s off-grid solar advisor and provided substantial technical support on regulatory and market development issues.
The program also pioneered markets for household and commercial-scale solar, invested grant in more than 30 solar providers, supported several strong local start-ups through to commercial investment stage and easing of market barriers on importation and mobile money regulation.

SNP attributes its success in Nigeria to acute understanding of the political economy, deep understanding of solar markets and how they develop, innovative design, and flexible respond to opportunities.
Since 2015, SNP has awarded grants to capable solar companies in order to stimulate the market for solar energy. These grants have been instrumental in supporting the growth and expansion of national and international solar companies in Nigeria.

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