Revolution In Rural Power: Okra Solar Unveils Game-Changing Off-Grid Technology For Nigeria

According to Ireporter Online, Okra Solar has introduced Mesh-grid Beyond, an advanced off-grid power solution designed to help energy developers reach communities located farther from the national grid, accelerate project deployment, and provide sustainable electricity to households across all income levels—profitably.

The launch comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s electrification drive, with about 90 million citizens still without electricity. Despite favourable regulations and the ambitious DARES (Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up) programme, developers continue to struggle with the practical realities of powering remote, low-income communities with little to no mobile network coverage. Mesh-grid Beyond aims to solve these challenges through three integrated innovations—Sprout, Leaf, and OkraNet.

The new suite upgrades Okra’s existing mesh-grid model, which uses a Hub-and-Spoke system to supply reliable and cost-effective power to both homes and businesses. Sprout, designed as the Hub, centralises productive users by delivering up to 2.4kW AC output and supporting nearly all commercial activities within typical rural communities. The unit is pre-configured for rapid deployment and built to minimise power theft with a secured, streamlined enclosure.

Leaf, which functions as the Spoke component, introduces a breakthrough price point of under $100 per household connection. This innovation targets the majority of rural households that consume low amounts of electricity and are typically considered unprofitable under mini-grid models. With its 150W AC output and OkraNet-enabled metering, Leaf allows even homes using less than 5kWh monthly to become commercially viable, making universal access more achievable without undermining investor returns.

For connectivity, OkraNet eliminates the traditional dependence on mobile networks by enabling data to hop from home to home until it reaches a central gateway linked via satellite or 3G/4G. This ensures seamless billing, monitoring, and automated maintenance, regardless of how remote a community may be.

Industry players say the combined effect of these technologies marks a turning point for rural electrification. Communities once deemed impossible to electrify—due to low consumption levels, remote terrain, and strict grant timelines—can now be powered profitably and at scale. Daniel Komolafe, CEO of First Electric, described the new products as “game-changing,” noting that customers in Burum have already embraced the system and that its speed and profitability will accelerate future deployments.

Afnan Hannan, CEO of Okra Solar, said the company’s mission is to expand opportunities through energy access. He added that Mesh-grid Beyond equips Nigerian developers with the tools needed to reach previously inaccessible communities while scaling rapidly and efficiently.

With Nigeria pursuing universal electricity access and its Mission 300 agenda ahead of the 2030 deadline, the timing of the launch is critical. Mesh-grid Beyond offers twice the deployment speed of mini-grids, reduces grant requirements by half, and presents a clear path toward financial independence for off-grid developers—giving government agencies more reach for less funding.

Okra Solar confirmed that the new suite is fully DARES-compliant, field-tested, and ready for immediate deployment. The company is offering extensive training, planning support, and technical assistance to help energy firms accelerate rollout across Nigeria’s most underserved communities.