The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency has revealed that about 40 interconnected mini-grids are currently under development to inject 288 megawatts of additional capacity into Nigeria’s national grid.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Energy Times Awards, where he received recognition, the REA boss said the projects are being driven by recent regulatory reforms aimed at expanding renewable energy deployment across the country.
He described the newly reviewed mini-grid regulation by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission as a significant milestone for the sector, noting that the updated framework would accelerate distributed power generation and help close Nigeria’s electricity access gap.
According to him, the agency had engaged the electricity regulator for more than two years to review the earlier framework. The discussions focused on expanding the capacity limit for mini-grids and creating a specific regulatory structure for interconnected systems.
The revised regulation increases the capacity cap for isolated mini-grids from one megawatt to five megawatts. It also introduces a new category for interconnected mini-grids with a capacity limit of up to 10 megawatts.
In addition, the framework harmonises licensing procedures and streamlines environmental and social impact assessment requirements, measures expected to simplify project approvals and attract more investment into distributed renewable energy.
“It’s one of the greatest achievements for this sector. We have been engaging NERC to review the mini-grid regulation for over two years. Specifically, we wanted NERC to increase the mini-grid regulation cap of one megawatt and also create another specific regulation for interconnected mini-grids,” he said.
He explained that interconnected mini-grids are expected to play a critical role in stabilising the national grid while also expanding electricity access to underserved communities.
Highlighting the agency’s ongoing initiatives, the REA chief said work had already begun on several interconnected systems that would collectively add significant capacity to the grid.
“You have seen the interconnected mini-grids that we have started. We are now working on 40 interconnected mini-grids that will inject 288MW of new capacity into the grid with battery storage,” he said.
He added that the new regulatory structure removes the need for special derogation approvals previously required for such projects, making it easier for developers to deploy larger renewable energy systems.
The development is expected to strengthen the role of distributed renewable energy in powering homes and businesses nationwide, while also paving the way for the emergence of more utility-scale solar projects across the country.
Industry observers say the reform could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s renewable energy ecosystem, as expanded mini-grid capacity and simplified licensing processes encourage greater private sector participation in electricity generation.
