MOPO, an Africa-focused battery rental company backed by Octopus Energy Group Ltd., has signed a $75 million agreement with the Nigerian government. This deal aims to expand its battery rental operations across the country by 2030, improving access to affordable electricity.
The agreement, made with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), will start with a pilot program later in 2026. Following the pilot, it will expand nationwide over the next five years, MOPO stated on Monday, according to Bloomberg.
MOPO's Strategy for Electricity Access
MOPO highlighted that this expansion will strengthen access to reliable electricity. It allows households and businesses to rent rechargeable batteries, avoiding the need to invest in expensive solar home systems or mini-grids.
Luke Burras, MOPO’s Chief Operating Officer, explained, "We solve a lot of the problems that mini-grids and solar home systems struggle with. We rent batteries to customers for hours. We’re not asking them to buy an asset in the case of solar home systems, and we’re not asking investors to place a huge bet on their future usage as with mini-grids."
The company confirmed the partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency will begin with a pilot program in 2026, with nationwide expansion targeted by 2030. This investment aligns with broader efforts to accelerate access to clean and affordable electricity across Nigeria and the African continent.
REA's Broader Electrification Initiatives
The Rural Electrification Agency has several ongoing initiatives to boost electricity access. Nairametrics previously reported that REA plans to spend N100 billion in 2026 to deploy hybrid mini-grids for government agencies both within and outside Abuja.
These funds are part of the National Public Sector Solarisation programme, a component of the agency’s larger N170 billion budget proposal for 2026. In February 2026, REA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
This MoU aims to deploy solar power systems to 15 public institutions across Nigeria. The project falls under the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), a World Bank-supported initiative designed to expand off-grid electricity access across West Africa and the Sahel.
ECOWAS will provide a $700,000 grant to fund the installation of solar photovoltaic systems. These systems will be placed in selected rural health centers and schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Nasarawa States.
Addressing Nigeria's Electricity Deficit
Nigeria continues to face one of the world’s largest electricity access deficits, despite being Africa’s biggest economy. Data from the World Bank and the African Development Bank indicates that nearly 560 million people across sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to electricity.
Limited electricity access significantly constrains productivity, education, healthcare delivery, and overall economic development in many African countries. The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency, continues to promote off-grid and renewable energy solutions to accelerate electricity access in underserved communities.
