Sun King, the world’s largest off-grid solar company, has entered a landmark partnership with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand renewable energy access, promote local manufacturing, and drive data-driven innovation. The collaboration was formalized at the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) in Abuja, with Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and Sun King Co-Founder & CEO T. Patrick Walsh in attendance.
The partnership focuses on three strategic pillars aimed at fast-tracking Nigeria’s clean energy transition:
1. Boosting Local Manufacturing through the “Nigeria First” Agenda
Sun King and REA will collaborate to enhance domestic assembly of high-value solar products and energy-efficient appliances. This initiative is designed to create jobs, strengthen local supply chains, and increase Nigeria’s footprint in the renewable energy value chain.
2. Technical Cooperation and Data-Driven Insights
The agreement emphasizes robust data collection, market intelligence, and knowledge sharing to improve the efficiency of energy access programs such as the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES). These efforts align with the global Mission 300 initiative, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
3. Advocacy for Standalone Solar Solutions
Sun King and REA will jointly champion off-grid solar as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy strategy. Their advocacy highlights the socio-economic benefits of solar power for households, schools, and small businesses, while promoting policies and financing frameworks to scale adoption.
This Memorandum of Understanding underscores the power of public-private partnerships in shaping Nigeria’s renewable energy future, reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth while paving the way for local manufacturing excellence.
