March 29, 2024

 Husk sets to commission 6 hybrid solar mini-grids in Nasarawa State

Oredola Adeola

Husk Power, a Colorado, USA-based renewable energy provider is set to commission six new solar mini-grid of 50 kilowatts peak(kWp) each in six rural communities in Nasarawa State.

This was revealed in a statement released by Olu Aruike, Husk’s Country Manager in Nigeria, and obtained by EnergyDay.

EnergyDay gathered that the installations are expected to provide clean electricity to households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in several communities in Nasarawa State in Northern Nigeria.

The company has already commissioned twelve hybrid solar mini-grids in the central Nigerian state.

According to Husk’s Country Manager, the company is building its mini-grids under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), a federal government initiative supported by the World Bank.

She said “With the continued support of our host communities, governments at all levels, and other partners, we will create a rural energy platform to help off-grid and low-grid communities reach their full economic potential,”

EnergyDay further gathered that the new installations provide Husk the opportunity to receive performance-based subsidies from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria.

Husk plans to commission eight new solar mini-grids by early 2023, and 100 such installations over the next few years.

Manoj Sinha, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of the company in a recent report seen by EnergyDay said, the renewable firm was launched in mini-grids business in 2020 in Nigeria.

He noted that in 2022, the company also launched the “Sunshot” initiative to install green mini-grids in at least 500 sites to electrify at least 2 million Nigerians with reliable, renewable energy by 2026.

He said, “We have made great progress in rolling out new mini-grids and we’re seeing high revenue per customer at our first 6 sites. We see a potential to add another 500 mini-grids in Nigeria over the next 4-5 years.”

EnergyDay’s check showed that the company had recently raised $4 million in debt from the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA).