Rockefeller, Bezos-Backed Group Looks to Expand Solar Grids in Nigeria
TLDR
- Geapp, with backing from the Rockefeller Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund, pilots a solar mini-grid program in Nigeria to combat unreliable electricity supply.
- The initiative launched in 2021 aims to address energy poverty and increase access to consistent power by scaling up solar solutions in Africa's most populous nation.
- Geapp's interconnected mini-grids enhance the national grid's limited supply, allowing businesses and homes to operate continuously, with plans to build 10 gigawatts of mini-grids across Nigeria.
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Geapp), backed by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund, is piloting a solar mini-grid program in Nigeria to address the country’s unreliable electricity supply.
The initiative, launched in 2021, seeks to address energy poverty and expand access to consistent power by scaling up solar solutions in Africa’s most populous nation, where an estimated 86 million people live without electricity.
Geapp’s interconnected mini-grids supplement the limited supply from the national grid, enabling businesses and homes to operate around the clock. The organization aims to build 10 gigawatts of mini-grids across Nigeria, with pilots underway in various regions.
Key Takeaways
The solar mini-grid program piloted by Geapp in Nigeria offers a promising solution to the country’s chronic power shortages. By supplementing the national grid and providing consistent electricity, the initiative boosts productivity for underserved communities. Through the Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (Dart) program, Geapp pools the needs of developers to reduce solar equipment costs by up to 30%, while offering financing facilities to support development. The World Bank has pledged $130 million to scale similar projects, seeing the success of Geapp’s initiative.
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