Sharing the Power: Nigerian Community Takes Charge of Their Energy Development

The 'Sharing the Power' project, supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery and implemented by RMI and Nayo Tropical Technology Ltd., has upgraded a solar minigrid in Mokoloki, Ogun State, Nigeria. The project addresses capacity shortfalls caused by a 60 percent population increase and rising diesel costs by increasing battery capacity from 190 kWh to 316 kWh and switching to a DC coupled system. Central to the model is 'inclusive energy governance,' where the Mokoloki community holds an 11 percent stake in the project, granting them voting rights through a Community Power Association (CPA) and 11 percent of net revenues to fund communal projects such as roads, schools, and health centers.

• The installation of a solar minigrid in Mokoloki led to a 60 percent increase in the town's population, growing from 250 households to an estimated 400, which subsequently strained the system's capacity.
• The Mokoloki minigrid faced sustainability challenges due to the lack of a national grid connection and a sharp rise in diesel fuel prices, which increased from 225/liter (US$0.25/liter) in March 2020 to 1,050/liter (US$1.18/liter) in October 2023.
• To improve reliability and reduce diesel reliance, the system's battery capacity was upgraded from 190 kWh to 316 kWh and the architecture was changed from an AC coupled system to a DC coupled system.
• The 'Sharing the Power' model implements 'inclusive energy governance' through five principles: community co-ownership, inclusive governance structures, benefit sharing, gender equity and social inclusion, and safeguards for community investment.
• In Mokoloki, the community holds an 11 percent stake in the minigrid, which entitles them to 11 percent of revenues after operational costs and a vote in key decisions via a Community Power Association (CPA).
• Reliable electricity from the minigrid has enabled local businesses to scale, allowed the Mokoloki Health Centre to store vaccinations and medications, and permitted schools to provide computer training.

APA

RMI (2024). Sharing the Power: Nigerian Community Takes Charge of Their Energy Development. https://rmi.org/resources/sharing-the-power-nigerian-community-takes-charge-of-their-energy-development/

Chicago

RMI. Sharing the Power: Nigerian Community Takes Charge of Their Energy Development. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/sharing-the-power-nigerian-community-takes-charge-of-their-energy-development/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Sharing the Power: Nigerian Community Takes Charge of Their Energy Development |date=7 February 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/sharing-the-power-nigerian-community-takes-charge-of-their-energy-development/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024sharing, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Sharing the Power: Nigerian Community Takes Charge of Their Energy Development}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/sharing-the-power-nigerian-community-takes-charge-of-their-energy-development/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }