To strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure and advance its clean energy goals, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed a $1.2 million grant to support a feasibility study on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The initiative is a major step toward stabilizing the national grid, integrating renewable energy, and future-proofing Nigeria’s power sector.
The announcement was made at the inaugural workshop for the BESS feasibility study held in Abuja, organized by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in collaboration with AfDB and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).
Speaking at the event, Abdul Kamara, AfDB Director-General for Nigeria, said the funding is being provided under the Africa Energy Transition Catalyst Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing sustainable energy infrastructure across the continent.
“Battery storage is central to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s renewable energy resources. With 60% of the world’s best solar resources and only 2% of global energy storage capacity, Africa has both a significant challenge and a compelling opportunity,” Kamara said, as represented by Chigoziri Egeruoh from the AfDB Nigeria Country Office.
The feasibility study will evaluate how BESS can improve grid reliability, manage peak loads, and provide frequency stabilization. These are critical functions in a country where power supply inconsistencies are a recurring problem. The study will also recommend investment-ready business and regulatory frameworks to encourage private sector participation in energy storage projects.
BESS technology allows excess electricity generated during off-peak periods—especially from renewables like solar and wind—to be stored and dispatched during peak demand. This not only reduces dependency on fossil-fuel-based generation but also enables a more resilient and flexible energy grid.
The BESS initiative is tightly aligned with Nigeria’s broader energy strategies, including the Energy Transition Plan, SE4ALL Action Agenda, and the Renewable Energy Master Plan. These policies aim to transition the country to a low-carbon, sustainable power system that supports both urban and rural electrification.
“As Nigeria’s grid evolves, battery storage is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” Kamara noted. “Our commitment is holistic—from regulatory support under the Electricity Act, to direct infrastructure investments like the $200 million Nigeria Electrification Project and the $250 million Nigeria Transmission Expansion Project.”
Nigeria is also a key participant in the $20 billion Desert to Power Initiative, which seeks to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar energy across the Sahel and power 250 million people, further anchoring Nigeria’s role as a regional leader in clean energy adoption.
Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director of TCN, emphasized that operational teams frequently battle technical issues such as voltage imbalances and grid instability. He explained that BESS could resolve many of these pain points by providing reactive power, voltage support, and black start capabilities, enabling faster system recovery during outages.
Represented by Olugbenga Ajiboye, Executive Director of Transmission Services, Abdulaziz said, “This feasibility study is both timely and essential for building a modern, smart power grid.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, praised the project as a strategic step toward ensuring reliable and clean electricity access. Represented by Ben Ayangeaor, Assistant Director of Renewable and Rural Power Access, he described BESS as the most scalable and practical solution to Nigeria’s ongoing energy reliability challenges.
“Battery systems today do more than store energy. They form the grid, establish frequency references, and serve as virtual generators,” Adelabu explained.
The feasibility study will provide a comprehensive analysis covering technical, regulatory, financial, and environmental aspects of BESS deployment. It will identify priority sites for battery storage, propose scalable financing models, and recommend policy frameworks that can attract both domestic and foreign investment.
As Nigeria accelerates its push toward decarbonization, this initiative stands as a milestone in reshaping the energy landscape—moving the nation from “megawatts of talk to megawatts of power,” as Kamara aptly put it.