Renewable Energy company, Husk signs an agreement with United Nations to expand solar mini-grids in Nigeria and Africa

Husk Power Systems, a pioneer in rural electricity, wants to install 500 solar mini-grids in Nigeria within the space of five years.

Launched in 2008, the company which has offices in Nigeria, Tanzania, and India’s Uttar Pradesh and Bihar believes “MSMEs are the engine of economies in Africa,”.

In its efforts to support small enterprises as well as encourage new MSMEs which will promote economic growth and increase opportunity and job creation, the company wants to build at least 5,000 mini-grids by 2030, and in the process make 1 million connections.

Husk Power Systems therefore signed an agreement with the UN promising to supply renewable energy in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The agreement is under the United Nation’s 24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact – a global initiative to accelerate the consumption of carbon-free electricity as a means of mitigating the catastrophic effects of climate change.

Husk Power Systems says it wants to focus first on countries that have a “supportive regulatory environment”. The company’s Chief Executive, Manoj Sinha, confirmed in a statement that Nigeria and India (which are also its biggest markets) are the two countries have supportive policies. “Nigeria is seen to have the most conducive policy in sub-Saharan Africa at the moment,” he affirmed.

Husk Power Systems will continue to set the pace for renewable energy initiatives. The company has been able to secure $40 million from investors like Shell and FMO. In 2021, it was named the only mini-grid developer with over 100 community locations by the 2021 Renewables Global Status Report.

With the correct policies in place, mini-grids have the capacity to deliver renewable electricity to millions of people who live in rural areas. This is achieveable, in say, the next 10 years. The option is also a source for cleaner and cheaper energy, which might revolutionise millions of lives.