Abuja, Nigeria — In a major step toward universal energy access, Odyssey has been officially appointed as the digital platform provider for Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Solutions (DARES), Nigeria’s largest distributed energy initiative to date. The program, spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with World Bank support, aims to deliver clean, reliable electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians through a large-scale rollout of solar mini-grids and standalone solar home systems.
A New Chapter in Nigeria’s Energy Journey
DARES builds on the success of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which proved the viability of distributed energy solutions in rural and underserved communities. Under NEP, over 100 private developers deployed solar infrastructure across the country, showcasing the potential for scalable, investor-attractive clean energy projects.
With DARES, REA is significantly scaling up that vision. The new program targets:
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1,500 solar mini-grids
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1.5 million standalone solar home systems
This makes DARES the largest distributed electrification initiative globally ever backed by the World Bank.
Odyssey’s Role: Digital Infrastructure for Impact
Odyssey will serve as the digital infrastructure underpinning DARES, enabling:
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Real-time project oversight by REA
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Streamlined proposal submission and financing workflows for developers
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Transparent, results-based disbursement tracking
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Long-term system monitoring
In addition, Odyssey will integrate with VIDA’s geospatial intelligence tools, enabling data-driven site identification and smarter deployment strategies.
“We are honored to deepen our partnership with REA and play a pivotal role in bringing life-changing energy to millions of Nigerians,” Odyssey stated.
Setting a Global Precedent
The launch of DARES represents a model of how digital innovation, public-private collaboration, and international finance can converge to solve large-scale infrastructure challenges. With more than 700 million people worldwide still lacking access to electricity, the DARES framework has the potential to be replicated in other emerging markets striving for energy inclusion.
Odyssey’s involvement highlights the growing importance of digital tools in managing and scaling complex clean energy initiatives. Its platform provides governments, financiers, and developers with a robust digital toolkit for managing implementation at speed and scale.
A Future Powered by Clean Energy
As DARES rolls out across Nigeria, the partnership between REA, Odyssey, the World Bank, and private sector developers offers a transformational pathway for delivering clean, distributed energy to hard-to-reach communities—unlocking economic potential, improving quality of life, and contributing to climate resilience.
