Renewable energy service company Vsolaris has underscored its role in Nigeria’s decentralised power development, saying the company has a planned total generation capacity of 64 megawatts of electricity.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Vsolaris, Chantelle Abdul, stated this during a recent visit by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, to its Lagos office and factory.

According to a statement, the visit highlighted ongoing collaborations aimed at expanding electricity access to underserved communities through off-grid solutions.

The REA, tasked with addressing Nigeria’s significant electrification deficit, is said to be actively engaging credible private-sector developers like V-Solaris under the Federal Government’s off-grid and interconnected power strategy.

Speaking, Abdul informed the REA team that the company has successfully completed seven operational mini-grid projects in Plateau State’s Langtang South, Shendam, and Bokkos Local Government Areas.

She revealed that VSolaris now manages 101 mini-grid sites across 34 local government areas in nine states, with a planned total generation capacity of 64 megawatts. Additionally, 15 isolated mini-grid projects are under construction at approximately 75 per cent completion, while three interconnected projects are about halfway through construction.

“Vsolar currently has 101 mini-grid sites in its portfolio, spread across 34 local government areas in nine states, with a planned generation capacity of 64 megawatts. Project execution is progressing steadily, with 15 isolated mini-grid sites presently under construction at about 75 per cent completion, while three interconnected mini-grid projects are also under construction at approximately 50 per cent completion,” Abdul was quoted as saying.

The General Manager at Vsolaris, Ayodeji Oladeji, emphasised the company’s advanced metering and revenue assurance systems.

According to Oladeji, with over 6,000 smart meters deployed and integrated with vending platforms, the company achieves 99 per cent collection efficiency and zero downtime. This metering system, it was stated, supports transparency, strengthens project bankability, and ensures reliable service delivery.

The REA boss reiterated the agency’s mandate to extend power access to communities currently off the grid and improve supply reliability where it exists. He clarified the funding model, stating, “We do not fully fund these projects. Public funds are deployed as catalytic grants, but the private sector must have skin in the game. That is how we ensure accountability and long-term sustainability.”

Under the Nigeria Electrification Project, he said the REA has supported over 200 mini-grids nationwide, electrifying approximately 1.1 million households and providing hybrid power solutions to 15 federal institutions. In Plateau State alone, partner-led mini-grids with a combined capacity of around 850 kilowatts reportedly serve seven rural communities.

Aliyu highlighted the broader impacts of electrification, noting improvements in small businesses, agricultural processing, healthcare delivery, and education. He also announced that the Federal Government approved $750m for the REA to fund electricity access for 17.5 million Nigerians through about 1,350 mini-grids, alongside catalysing an estimated $1.1bn in private-sector investment.

During the visit, Aliyu toured Vsolaris’s assembly lines, service centres, and warehouses for smart meters, solar home systems, and mini-grid infrastructure. He commended the company’s experience in last-mile deployment and local capacity building as crucial for scaling rural electrification.

Both REA and Vsolaris emphasised that results-based financing, private capital involvement, and community ownership are key to maintaining operational and impactful projects over time.