Challenge: Sky Resources identified Orsu, a community in Imo State’s Orsu LGA, grappling with energy inaccessibility for its 1000 households and a vibrant market due to a defunct power grid. This scenario mirrors Nigeria’s broader challenge of electrifying rural areas, critical for economic and social development.

Action: In 2015, USADF awarded Sky Resources a $100,000 grant, with DDI providing additional support in project management and business advisory. This collaboration aimed to electrify Orsu Community in Imo State with a 36kWe Solar PV Micro-grid. Designed for 50 business centers, this initiative leveraged a pay-per-use model tailored for trading hours, ensuring clean and affordable electricity was accessible for productive activities.

Result: The project’s success led to an expanded budget and scope, now powering 90 micro-businesses with a 45.2KW capacity, significantly enhancing Orsu’s economic landscape and setting a precedent for renewable energy solutions in rural Nigerian communities.