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

This case study describes the 'Sharing the Power' project in Mokoloki, Nigeria, which implements a community-centric solar minigrid model. The project addresses challenges of rapid population growth and rising fuel costs by upgrading technical capacity and introducing a co-ownership structure where the community holds an 11 percent stake and shares in the revenues to fund local development.

• The installation of a solar and battery-powered minigrid in Mokoloki led to significant population and business growth, with the town's household count increasing by 60 percent, from 250 to approximately 400 households.
• The Mokoloki minigrid faced sustainability challenges due to a lack of connection to the national grid and a sharp increase in diesel fuel prices, which rose from ₦225/liter in March 2020 to ₦1,050/liter by October 2023.
• To improve reliability and reduce diesel dependence, the 'Sharing the Power' project upgraded the system's battery capacity from 190 kWh to 316 kWh and transitioned from an AC coupled system to a DC coupled system.
• The project employs an 'inclusive energy governance' model where the Mokoloki community holds an 11 percent stake in the minigrid and receives 11 percent of revenues after operational costs to fund communal projects such as roads, schools, and health centers.
• Governance of the minigrid is managed through a community power association (CPA) consisting of nominated members that ensure gender balance and representation of minority groups, granting the community a vote in key decisions.
• Reliable electricity has enabled critical community services in Mokoloki, including the ability for the local health centre to keep vaccinations cool and for the Unique Nursery and Primary School 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} }