Nigeria’s renewable energy sector is experiencing significant growth, with small-scale solar emerging as one of the country’s fastest-growing energy markets.
A recent BloombergNEF report identifies Nigeria as a leading market for small-scale solar in Sub-Saharan Africa, driven largely by businesses and households looking for alternatives to unreliable grid electricity.
The report estimates that Nigeria added about 3.1 GW of small-scale solar capacity during 2024 and 2025, bringing cumulative installed solar capacity to approximately 6 GW.
BloombergNEF forecasts that Nigeria’s annual solar additions could increase from about 2.4 GW in 2026 to 7.8 GW by 2030 and 16.2 GW by 2035. Cumulative solar capacity could reach approximately 87 GW by 2035 if the projected growth continues.
A major factor behind this expansion is the growing demand for reliable electricity. Businesses and households are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their dependence on petrol and diesel generators as fuel costs remain high and grid reliability continues to be a challenge.
The market is also shifting toward solar-plus-storage systems. Battery storage allows electricity generated during the day to be stored and used later, making solar systems more practical for businesses that require power beyond daylight hours.
Investment patterns reflect this change. BloombergNEF reported that Nigeria attracted about $2.4 billion in small-scale solar investment in 2025, with more than 99% of the country’s renewable energy investment directed toward small-scale solar.
Nigeria is also becoming a major importer of clean-energy equipment. Between 2025 and April 2026, the country imported approximately 2,370 MW worth of clean-energy equipment, reflecting growing demand for solar panels, batteries and related technologies.
However, the rapid growth of small-scale solar also highlights a major challenge: Nigeria’s large-scale renewable energy sector is not expanding at the same pace. High financing costs, currency risks and difficulties securing bankable electricity buyers continue to make large utility-scale projects more challenging.
Despite these obstacles, the direction of the Nigerian energy market is becoming clearer. More homes and businesses are looking for decentralized power solutions that can provide greater control over their electricity supply.
The continued growth of solar, battery storage and other distributed energy technologies could therefore play an increasingly important role in Nigeria’s electricity future.
For businesses, this trend creates opportunities to reduce dependence on fuel-powered generators, improve energy reliability and adopt cleaner power solutions.
At Mankorie Global Energy, we continue to provide electrical, solar and energy solutions that support the changing power needs of Nigerian homes and businesses.
