REA and EM-ONE Partner to Bring 350MW Renewable Energy to Nigeria

In a monumental stride towards bolstering Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and EM-ONE Energy Solutions (EM-ONE) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pioneer the development and deployment of 350 megawatts of renewable energy projects across the nation.

The strategic partnership, sealed at the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) Energy Access Investment Forum 2024 in Lagos, signifies a concerted effort to fortify Nigeria’s sustainable development objectives, aligning with the Federal Government’s aspirations for carbon neutrality by 2060.

Backed by a substantial investment of $750 million from the World Bank’s Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project, to be administered by REA, the collaboration aims to amplify Nigeria’s generation capacity. EM-ONE will spearhead initiatives including interconnected mini-grids (IMGs), healthcare facility electrification, e-mobility, smart grids, virtual power plants (VPP), and capacity building for renewable energy across the nation.

Central to the partnership are interconnected mini-grids, smart grid technologies, and virtual power plants (VPP), serving as pivotal components for Nigeria’s grid modernization efforts. These IMGs facilitate the interconnection of distributed energy resources (DREs), offering a cost-efficient solution to bridge the energy access gap. Leveraging smart grid technologies and VPPs, the collaboration seeks to enhance grid visibility, optimize power flows, and scale up renewable energy integration.

EM-ONE is set to deploy up to 200 MW of renewable energy capacity at commercial and industrial (C&I) sites with large surrounding communities and an additional 150 MW for health facility electrification. Moreover, the partnership will spearhead demonstration events, pilot projects, and programs to incentivize electric vehicle adoption, fostering sustainable transport in Nigeria while nurturing local capacity in renewable energy.

The MoU, signed by REA’s CEO and Managing Director, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and EM-ONE’s Director of Sustainable Energy, Adnan Rashid, signals a momentous leap towards transforming Nigeria’s power sector with renewable energy. Abubakar Aliyu expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting its potential to extend clean and reliable energy access to all Nigerians, especially those in underserved communities, while propelling the nation closer to achieving carbon neutrality.

EM-ONE’s CEO, Mir Islam, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the partnership’s significance in advancing Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. With EM-ONE’s technical prowess complementing REA’s strategic vision, the alliance is poised to make a formidable impact on Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.

The partnership also sees EM-ONE joining the ranks of Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs), an initiative under REA aimed at bolstering utility-scale portfolios ranging from 50 to 100 MW, thereby complementing the efforts of Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

The REA-EM-ONE collaboration stands as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to a greener, more sustainable energy future, heralding a new era of innovation and progress in the nation’s power sector.