The company disclosed in its Q1 2026 impact report that it now operates across more than 400 communities, with installed capacity rising to 47.4 megawatts (MW), reinforcing the growing role of off-grid energy infrastructure in bridging electricity access gaps in emerging markets.

Husk said the expansion reflects increasing demand for reliable and affordable energy solutions in rural communities where national grid infrastructure remains either weak or entirely absent.

According to the report, many communities connected through its solar minigrids now receive between 20 and 22 hours of electricity daily, a reliability level the company says often surpasses supply from conventional national grids in several developing economies.

The company also disclosed that its operations have helped avoid more than 83,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, highlighting the environmental impact of decentralized clean energy systems as countries pursue global net-zero targets.

In Nigeria, Husk said it has built 66 minigrid plants within the last six years, positioning the country as one of its key growth markets in Africa.

Beyond infrastructure deployment, the company said it is increasingly focusing on measuring the economic impact of renewable energy access.

Husk announced that it has partnered with the World Bank and Swedfund to launch a Randomized Controlled Trial in Nigeria aimed at generating data-driven insights into how solar minigrids influence local economic growth, livelihoods, and productivity.

The initiative is expected to provide empirical evidence on the contribution of decentralized energy systems to rural development and financial inclusion.

Husk also highlighted the expansion of its residential solar brand, BEEM, which it said is simplifying access to clean energy solutions through a multilingual digital platform designed for households and small businesses.

The company’s growing visibility within the global energy transition ecosystem was further underscored by the appointment of Manoj Sinha, the chief executive officer, to the Mission 300 Private Sector Council, an initiative focused on expanding electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

Industry analysts say the growth of decentralized renewable energy solutions is becoming increasingly important across Africa, where millions of households and businesses still lack access to reliable electricity despite rising digital adoption and economic activity.

With governments and development institutions intensifying efforts to expand energy access while reducing carbon emissions, minigrid operators are expected to play a larger role in powering rural economies, supporting small businesses, and accelerating inclusive development across underserved regions.

The initiative consists of a three-part strategy:

1) demonstrating accelerated microgrid deployment at scale;

2) improving livelihoods by providing financing for the purchase of energy efficiency appliances (for both households and MSMEs) and

3) catalyzing greater local socio-economic development by rolling out productive use activities, including agri-processing and cold storage. 

“Husk Power will do its utmost to support federal, state and local governments to deliver on Nigeria’s goal of universal electrification by 2030,” said Olu Aruike, Country Manager of Husk Nigeria. “With more than 90 million Nigerians still living without access to energy, the Nigeria Sunshot is a real-world demonstration that the microgrid industry is ready to scale, and drive rural economic growth with a net-zero, resilient solution.”  

Key goals of the Nigeria Sunshot include: 

• Building at least 500 microgrids by 2026
• Establishing 400,000 connections that benefit over 2 million people
• Taking at least 25,000 diesel and gasoline generators offline
• Providing affordable energy to 8,000 women-led business customers
• Electrifying 700 public health clinics and 200 private hospitals, and 100 public schools

According to recent Nigerian government data, solar microgrids represent the least-cost technology for 8.9 million of the 19.8 million additional connections needed in the country to achieve universal electrification.

Under the Sunshot Initiative, Husk will be able to provide about 5% of those connections, and impact 1% of the total Nigerian population.

In late 2021, Husk became the first company to commission multiple microgrids at once in Nigeria, clearly demonstrating the ability to scale. Husk expects to end 2022 with more than 20 microgrids in operation.

Besides its presence in Nigeria and Tanzania, Husk is also in discussions to enter multiple new markets in Sub-Saharan Africa.

By scaling in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, Husk will be able to expand and achieve even greater impact. Overall, Husk committed in a 2022 UN Energy Compact to build 5,000 microgrids by 2030.

Founded in 2008, Husk Power Systems is the leading net-zero energy services company operating across Asia and Africa. Its smart and sustainable solutions, centered around community solar microgrids, accelerate access to clean, modern and affordable electricity and catalyze socio-economic development.

Husk’s focus on the customer meets the growing aspirations of businesses and households, while its grid-integratable solution supports national electrification plans.