From hydro to solar: Niger State set to gain as FG unlocks more grid capacity

The Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Rural Electrification Agency are driving two separate but complementary expansions to the national grid that, taken together, tackle both bulk power evacuation and last-mile supply. The moves centre on new 330kV transmission connections commissioned at the Ihovbor corridor and 40 interconnected mini-grids now being developed to inject 288 megawatts of fresh capacity with battery storage. For Nigerian consumers, the projects mean more generated electricity actually reaches homes and businesses, faster rollout of larger renewable plants, and better grid stability. For Niger State, home to Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro, and Zungeru hydropower dams, the interventions open a direct pathway to improve evacuation from existing hydro assets and to anchor new utility-scale solar on state feeders.

TCN strengthened the national grid with the commissioning of turn-in-turn-out connections for the Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV transmission lines at 19:05 on Wednesday, April 23, 2026. According to General Manager, Public Affairs at TCN, Ndidi Mbah, the development provides additional evacuation capacity for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and Azura Power plants, improving the ability to transmit generated electricity to the national grid. TCN confirmed that the Ihovbor/Benin line is currently carrying about 200 megawatts, while the Ihovbor/Ajaokuta line is transmitting around 90 megawatts. The company said the new infrastructure is expected to enhance the reliability of electricity supply by reducing transmission constraints in the corridor and strengthening overall grid performance. TCN described the project as a key step in improving power evacuation capacity and supporting more efficient distribution of generated electricity across the network. “The commissioning delivers the Ihovbor corridor and provides additional evacuation capacity for NDPHC and Azura Power,” TCN said, adding that the new lines will “strengthen power evacuation from the Ihovbor generating plant and improve grid stability and reliability in the affected regions.” The company noted that the intervention aligns with ongoing efforts to expand and modernise Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure to support growing electricity demand.

At the same time, the Rural Electrification Agency is working on 40 interconnected mini-grids that will inject 288MW of new capacity into the grid with battery storage. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA said the projects follow recent regulatory reforms in the renewable energy space. Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Energy Times Awards, the REA boss described the newly reviewed renewable mini-grid regulation as a major milestone that would accelerate distributed power deployment and help close Nigeria’s electricity access gap. He explained that the agency had engaged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for more than two years to review the earlier framework, particularly to expand the capacity limit and create a dedicated structure for interconnected mini-grids.

“It’s one of the greatest achievements for this sector. We have been engaging NERC to review the mini-grid regulation for over two years. Specifically, we wanted NERC to increase the mini-grid regulation cap of one megawatt, as well as create another specific regulation for interconnected mini-grids. Because we have seen that in the future, interconnected mini-grids will play a key role in stabilising the grid and also play a key role in addressing the energy access gap,” he said. “So, we are happy that they have seen the reason after our back and forth. We exchanged over eight letters, and they have seen the reason. They have done the engagement with stakeholders. And they have now reviewed the mini-grid and released the new one.”

Under the revised regulation, the cap for isolated mini-grids rises from one megawatt to five megawatts, while a new category of interconnected mini-grids is created with a cap of 10 megawatts. The regulation also harmonises the licensing process and streamlines environmental and social impact assessment requirements. “So this is a great win for the renewable ecosystem,” the REA boss stressed. On impact, he said distributed renewable energy will now play a significant role in powering homes and businesses nationwide. “Rather than now deploying one megawatt, we can deploy 10 times as many megawatts,” he said.

On the agency’s projects, he added: “You have seen the interconnected mini-grids that we have started. We are now working on 40 interconnected mini-grids that will inject 288MW of new capacity into the grid with battery storage. And we could not achieve that without getting a derogation approval from the NERC, but now, they have created the approval. So, we don’t have to get derogation approval. Everybody will now go and get a site within the feeder that can take that capacity. It means that utility-scale solar energy will now start to emerge across the country. That’s what we are looking at.”

For Nigerian consumers, the two moves deliver four clear gains. First, more evacuation and less stranded power. With the Ihovbor/Benin line carrying about 200 megawatts and the Ihovbor/Ajaokuta line about 90 megawatts, more of what is already generated by NDPHC and Azura can reach the grid instead of being constrained at the plant. Second, larger distributed projects feeding the grid. The new 10MW cap for interconnected mini-grids and 288MW of battery-backed capacity under development mean developers can deploy 10 times as many megawatts as under the old 1MW limit, with harmonised licensing to speed up investment. Third, grid stabilisation through distributed injection. REA said interconnected mini-grids “will play a key role in stabilising the grid,” and with battery storage they can supply power closer to demand centres, help balance frequency and voltage on local feeders, and cut system losses. Fourth, faster project rollout nationwide. Projects above 1MW no longer need derogation approval from NERC, so developers can move directly to sites on feeders that can take the capacity, allowing utility-scale solar and other distributed projects to come online quicker.

For Niger State, which hosts Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro, and Zungeru hydropower dams, the combined TCN and REA expansions create three direct benefits. First, better evacuation for hydropower from the dams. TCN’s focus on reducing transmission constraints, as seen with the Ihovbor turn-in-turn-out connections, sets the model for strengthening evacuation corridors. With Shiroro and Zungeru feeding into the 330kV network and Jebba and Kainji tied to major transmission routes, additional capacity on the grid reduces the risk of hydro plants being asked to ramp down due to line limits. Second, interconnected mini-grids can serve dam host communities and industrial clusters. The new 10MW cap allows larger solar-battery systems to be built on feeders within Niger State. REA said “utility-scale solar energy will now start to emerge across the country,” and in Niger State that means host communities around the four dams can have dedicated interconnected mini-grids that serve local load and inject excess power into the grid. Battery storage in the 288MW programme helps firm up supply during evening peaks when hydro may be constrained by water management. Third, grid stability supports industrial demand in Niger State. With the Ihovbor lines adding 290MW of evacuation capacity and the 40 mini-grids adding 288MW of distributed injection, the national grid gains nearly 580MW of new headroom. For a state where agro-processing, manufacturing, and irrigation depend on reliable power, the combination of bulk transmission upgrades and distributed stabilisation improves the quality of supply.

Together, TCN’s transmission reinforcement and REA’s regulatory-driven 288MW mini-grid rollout address both the bulk and distributed ends of the power value chain. For Nigerian consumers, that translates to more generated power actually delivered, more projects coming online faster, and better stability. For Niger State, it strengthens the case for maximising output from Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro, and Zungeru while opening state feeders to utility-scale solar and battery systems that keep local businesses and households powered.

A.B Makama 

Media Strategist To Honorable Honorable Power and Renewable Energy