Columbia University Visits REA Projects in Abuja, Nasarawa, Initiates Study on Demand Stimulation, EVs in Nigeria
- Commends the implementation of the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) Performance-Based Grant.
- Explored data-driven and people-centered models on demand stimulation in off-grid communities.
- Assessed early-stage efforts of FG and accelerator projects of private-sector players on E- Mobility in Nigeria.
In the last decade, the off-grid energy ecosystem in Nigeria has grown, transforming previously unelectrified communities into sustainable ecosystems for socioeconomic growth and catalyzing private sector investments within the space. The existential problem of energy poverty is one that affects millions of Africans in rural, urban and peri-urban communities, causing billions of dollars in losses for businesses, both small and large scale.
In Nigeria, energy remains the lifeblood of the economy. With a population of over 200 million people and a growing, multifaceted economy, the nation’s reliance on the grid infrastructure has proven insufficient, in the midst of a range of issues across the value chain. As part of the nation’s novel approach to alleviating energy poverty amongst the unserved and the underserved, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) was set up as an implementing agency of government tasked with the delivery of sustainable off-grid solutions.
Through the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Power, the REA has over the years taken on the task of implementing special programmes targeted at closing the energy access gap across sectors, in partnership with key international stakeholders. This is why the Agency, in line with its data-driven approach to project delivery through various programmes, currently implements strategic interventions targeted at improving energy access in last-mile communities, healthcare institutions, agricultural clusters and agro-processing centers, tertiary institutions and markets.
The Agency’s seamless delivery of SDG7 interventions vis a vis its broad-based partnerships with international stakeholders has in recent years, earned it accolades and commendations from across the globe. A key programme that has expanded the Agency’s impact footprint in recent years is the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), a World Bank and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) funded facility. The NEP is a programme designed to catalyze sustainable off-grid development in Nigeria through the optimization of mini-grids, solar home systems, captive power plants & productive use appliances. Through the NEP, the REA has successfully deployed over 150 solar mini-grids and deployed over 1.3 million solar home systems connections nationwide.
In a bid to explore the success of the programme, a group of students and consultants from the prestigious Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in the U.S embarked on a study visit to Nigeria as part of a Capstone. With a keen focus on the impact of the NEP in last-mile communities and opportunities for demand stimulation in these rapidly evolving renewable energy-powered communities, the SIPA delegation focused on the growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market in Nigeria and the viability of the technology especially in last-mile communities with existing mini-grid infrastructure. This visit underscored a significant interest in the intersection of a clean, sustainable renewable energy transportation systems in emerging economies.
The Capstone project led the Columbia SIPA delegation to visit two mini-grid projects deployed through the Performance-Based Grant (PBG) under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP): a 60KW standalone solar mini-grid powering Petti village, Kwali, FCT and a 342KwP interconnected solar hybrid mini-grid powering Toto community, Nasarawa State.
A timely study, the REA – Columbia University Capstone underscores the REA’s deliberate efforts on catalyzing productive use and demand stimulation in existing mini-grid-powered communities, with focus on e-mobility and agricultural productivity for social and economic growth. Nigeria, with its vast population and burgeoning economy, presents a unique set of opportunities as well as possibilities in previously unserved and underserved communities now being sufficiently powered through renewable energy.
The Capstone, which is due for publication in May 2024, aims to provide data-driven insights and models to address socio-cultural perspectives towards renewable energy solutions in rural communities, effectiveness of the policy and regulatory environment, and economic models suited for the accelerated growth of productive use equipment.
While receiving the Columbia SIPA delegation at the REA Headquarters, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, the Ag. MD/CEO of the Agency commended the institution for its age-long interest in people-centered and impact-driven research and development efforts globally. Abba expressed delight for the team’s commendation of the implementation of the NEP, explaining that the REA, beyond delivering on its mandate as an implementing Agency of the Federal Government, has equally become a knowledge hub where efforts on research, development and innovation are prioritized.
Through extensive series of one-on-one interviews with community leaders, mini-grid developers, private sector players, public institutions and development partners, the delegation gathered valuable data on the nascent but promising EV market in Nigeria. Their findings are expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing discourse on productive use of energy (PUE), sustainable transportation in off-grid communities in Nigeria, offering evidence-based recommendations to stakeholders, including policymakers, business leaders, and environmental advocates.
This Capstone project not only highlights the REA’s central role in the implementation of transformative renewable energy projects but also points to the importance of interdisciplinary research in tackling global challenges, while reaffirming the REA’s central role in the field of R&D and innovation.
