Odyssey has been named the official digital platform for Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Solutions (DARES), Nigeria’s most ambitious distributed energy initiative to date. Spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and supported by funding from the World Bank, DARES aims to deliver electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians by deploying thousands of solar mini-grids and standalone solar home systems across the country.
DARES is the successor to the highly successful Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which was also led by REA in collaboration with the World Bank. Under NEP, more than 100 solar developers extended clean energy access to underserved rural communities, attracting private sector investment and proving that distributed renewable systems can be implemented at scale even in remote areas.
With DARES, REA is scaling up its ambition significantly. The program targets the installation of up to 1,500 solar mini-grids and 1.5 million solar home systems, positioning it as the World Bank’s largest distributed electrification initiative globally.
To manage this scale, Odyssey will serve as the program’s central digital backbone. Through its platform, solar developers will be able to submit proposals, track implementation progress, and manage disbursement of results-based financing. REA will be able to oversee the project’s execution in real time, ensuring high levels of transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
The Odyssey platform will also support long-term monitoring of the deployed systems. Additionally, Odyssey will integrate with VIDA’s digital tools to enhance the project’s geospatial intelligence and site identification capabilities, giving participating companies access to more precise and data-driven deployment strategies.
Odyssey noted that its involvement in DARES underscores the increasing role of technology in accelerating energy access initiatives. By offering automated data validation, streamlined application workflows, and robust program tracking tools, Odyssey enables governments and financiers to manage complex clean energy projects with greater confidence and agility.
As DARES rolls out, it is expected to serve as a scalable model for other emerging markets. With over 700 million people worldwide still lacking access to electricity, the combination of strong public-private collaboration, digital innovation, and international funding demonstrated by DARES could help bridge the energy gap in similar underserved regions.
Odyssey expressed enthusiasm for its continued collaboration with REA and reaffirmed its commitment to the mission. “We’re honored to continue our partnership with REA and excited to support the implementation of DARES as it brings life-changing energy to millions,” the company stated.
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