d.light, a leading provider of solar energy solutions across Africa and India, has been selected to participate in the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme. This initiative, set to launch this March, aims to expand electricity access for 17.5 million Nigerians through renewable energy sources.
Funded by the World Bank, the DARES programme also partners with key development finance institutions, including the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Development Agency (GIZ), SEforAll, and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“DARES is a major catalyst in our mission to empower millions with reliable, affordable, and sustainable solar energy solutions. This initiative goes beyond lighting homes. It’s about unlocking economic potential, enhancing productivity, and driving inclusive growth across Nigeria,” Valentine Okwara, Managing Director, d.light Nigeria says.
“We want to ensure that no child’s education is hindered by the lack of light in Kafanchan, that small and micro businesses in Baruten can extend their work hours and boost profitability, and that local health centres in Ohafia can provide better care, ultimately reducing maternal mortality,” he adds.
d.light’s participation in the DARES programme aligns with Nigeria’s broader energy transition goals. The initiative seeks to replace over 280,000 polluting and costly petrol and diesel generator sets with clean, renewable energy sources, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental sustainability.
The programme focuses on deploying solar mini-grids and standalone solar systems across Nigeria while offering technical assistance to partner organisations. This effort is expected to impact over 230,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises and potentially lead to the installation of 1,225 mini-grids. In total, 465 megawatts of energy will be distributed, providing electricity to 3.2 million households.
d.light’s involvement in the programme will enable the company to leverage its extensive experience to help address Nigeria’s energy challenges. Operating across Africa and India, d.light positively impacted 24 million people in 2024.
The company also experienced significant financial growth, recording its highest-ever quarterly revenue and profits in Q2 2024. Additionally, d.light achieved a 70% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4 2024, marking its most profitable three quarters in the company’s 17-year history.
“We are proud that the improvements we’ve made to our business have allowed d.light to become operating cash flow positive in 2024,” says Karl Skare, Chief Product & Strategy Officer of d.light. “But what excites us most is the profound impact our products continue to have on our customers’ lives. In 2024, d.light transformed the lives of 24 million people and surpassed 190 million cumulative lives impacted. This brings us even closer to our goal of transforming one billion lives by 2030.”
