Africa’s annual renewables investment forum meets in Lagos on 25-26 November, as Nigeria scales up mini-grids, distributed energy finance and local manufacturing.
The Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) is coming to Lagos on 25-26 November 2026, at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel. Organised by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) and supported by SolarPower Europe, the forum brings investors, developers, utilities, regulators and policymakers together under one roof. After Cape Town, Nairobi and Accra, it arrives in Nigeria at a time of fast policy change and fresh capital.
REA’s Managing Director to give the keynote
REFA 2026 has the official patronage of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Its Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, will give a keynote address during the opening plenary on Wednesday 25 November. REA leads Nigeria’s rural electrification drive and sees REFA as a boost for the country’s industrialisation agenda and regional trade.
Why Lagos, why now
Nigeria is West Africa’s leading solar market, with around 618 MWp of operational capacity, ranking 1st in the region and 8th in Africa. It also leads Africa in mini-grids, with 132 MWp, more than twice the capacity of second-ranked Angola and ranks 4th on the continent for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar, with roughly 385 MWp that has been tracked by AFSIA. The growth is recent: 76% of the country’s operational solar capacity was commissioned from 2022 onwards. Policy and capital are now catching up with that demand:
* DARES : REA’s $750 million World Bank-backed programme aims to build 1,350 solar mini-grids and bring better electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians. Construction is already under way in several states, helped by new NERC Mini-Grid Regulations from April 2026.
* DRE Fund : The $300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, run by NSIA and Africa50, had its commercial launch in September 2026. It will finance mini-grids, standalone solar and other distributed projects.
* Local manufacturing : Nigeria’s first privately owned 100 MW module assembly plant is up and running in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. REA, InfraCorp and Solarge are now developing a 1 GW factory, and REA has committed to buy at least 200 MW of its modules a year for five years.
* Net billing : Under NERC’s Net Billing Regulations 2026, eligible solar customers can export surplus power to the grid and earn credits, giving commercial and industrial solar a regulated way to sell what it does not use.
* State-level regulation : Oversight of electricity markets has passed to 16 states, Lagos among them. For projects serving a single state, licences and tariffs now come from the state commission.
Key themes and features
Over two days, dedicated streams will cover:
* Utility-scale and grids : why permitted, contracted renewable energy projects are still waiting for financial close, and how to make utilities and transmission bankable.
* Mini-grids and off-grid : how productive-use anchor loads lift mini-grid returns, and who will finance the last mile of energy access.
* Storage, C&I and off-takers : renewables-plus-storage models, corporate PPAs, and why telecoms, mining and data centres are becoming bankable power customers.
* E-mobility : why commercial fleets are the fastest route to EV scale.
* Finance and investment : what works and what does not in blended finance, and how to structure deals for currency, offtake and political risk.
* Industry : building a trusted solar manufacturing ecosystem in West Africa and tackling counterfeit products.
Structured B2B matchmaking runs across both days, combining a digital platform with a personal touch, and an exhibition sits alongside the programme.
Why attend
REFA is built around meetings that turn into deals. Previous editions brought together 325 attendees, 41 speakers and 25 partners, and led to 972 B2B meetings. In 2025, developers and financiers made up more than half of attendees, who came from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA.
Five reasons to join us in Lagos :
- Secure investment : meet local and international financiers who are actively looking for African projects.
- Find opportunities : connect with the developers leading renewable energy development across the continent.
- Reach decision-makers : talk to the regulators, utilities and policymakers shaping the rules, at a time when electricity regulation in Nigeria is moving to state level.
- Win customers : meet existing and new clients in the African energy market.
- Launch and announce : use REFA’s stage and marketing campaign to present new products, services and partnerships.
AFSIA Awards 2026
On the evening of Wednesday 25 November, a cocktail reception and the AFSIA Awards ceremony will celebrate the best of Africa’s solar and storage industry across 14 categories, from utility-scale, C&I and mini-grid projects to storage, innovation, financing deals and public administration. Two-day REFA delegates have access to the awards ceremony and other delegates can purchase tickets separately.
Partners on REFA 2026: policy ambition, investment and the solar supply chain
“Nigeria’s clean energy ecosystem is growing at an unprecedented pace, reflecting the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to impactful, sustainable energy infrastructure. At the REA, we understand that the nation’s transition to a sustainable energy future requires more than ambition; it requires investment, strong partnerships, and the development of our local manufacturing ecosystem. As we continue to advance these efforts and deliver clean energy access to alleviate energy poverty and its multidimensional effects, the agency remains committed to sustaining momentum, ensuring access for all, and optimising the technologies and models at our disposal. Our affiliation with the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) therefore offers an important opportunity to strengthen these efforts by connecting investors, policymakers, renewable energy service companies, and other critical stakeholders around a shared vision for the nation’s energy future.”
Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency (REA)
“As the Diamond Partner of REFA 2026, Jinko Solar is proud to stand alongside Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency during a pivotal era for West Africa’s energy transition. As Nigeria accelerates utility-scale, mini-grid, and C&I developments under transformative frameworks like DARES and net billing, Jinko Solar remains committed as the market’s No. 1 trusted module brand. To power this next chapter, we are proud to spotlight our latest Tiger Neo 3.0 series which delivers up to 670W power output, 24.8% efficiency, and high heat tolerance designed to maximize generation yields in tropical climates. By pairing world-leading N-type TOPCon innovation with strong local collaboration, we aim to empower Nigerian developers, distributors, state stakeholders, and end-users to efficiently harvest the sun and secure a sustainable energy future.”
Joanna Zhuo, Sales Director of Jinko Sub-Saharan Africa, Jinko Solar
“Nigeria is no longer just a market with potential. It is one of Africa’s most active solar markets, and demand from residential, commercial, industrial and utility scale sectors keeps growing. I see it every day: businesses want power they can rely on, at a cost they can predict, and they want partners who will stay for the long term. That is why JA Solar is a proud to partner with REFA. This forum brings together investors, developers, policymakers and technology providers, the people who will turn Nigeria’s renewable energy plans into real megawatts on the ground. As we view the market, The commercial and industrial sector is on the rise, PV paired with battery energy storage systems, and mini-grids. Customers now care about bankability, realworld performance and lifetime value, not just the upfront price. JA Solar’s high-efficiency, Tier-1 modules are built for that need, and we are committed to working closely with Nigerian distributors, EPCs and installers to grow the whole value chain. Together with REFA, we want to help unlock the financing, partnerships and local capacity Nigeria needs to meet its clean energy goals. The opportunity is here now, and JA Solar is ready to power it.”
Ruth Ifah, Sales Manager, JA Solar Nigeria
“Nigeria has moved from potential to execution. With 385 MWp of C&I solar already deployed, 132 MWp of mini-grids leading the continent, and DARES set to deliver power to 17.5 million people, this is Africa’s most active solar market. What Nigeria needs now is not just more megawatts, but technology that businesses can truly trust on their roofs. This is why as AIKO; we are proud to partner with REFA 2026. Nigeria’s C&I market is built on limited, often shaded roofs where every watt matters. Our ABC technology was built for that exact challenge: 25% efficiency in a compact footprint, up to 30% more yield under partial shading, and best-in-class safety and temperature performance for tropical climates. We are here to empower Nigerian developers, EPCs, distributors, and end-users with Tier-1 technology that is bankable, durable, and built for the long term. Aligned with the Nigeria First Policy and REA’s vision for a trusted local manufacturing ecosystem, we want to help turn Nigeria’s plans into reliable power on the ground”.
Taiwo Adedeji Adewale – Business Development Manager Nigeria, AIKO Energy MEA
“West Africa certainly isn’t short of sunshine. Our job is to make sure the structure underneath can keep up. We see enormous potential in Nigeria for well-engineered, competitive solar projects, and we believe that combining local market knowledge with German engineering will help turn that potential into reliable projects at scale.”
Johann Heidecker, Business Developer, Zimmermann PV-Steel Group
“We see strong potential for energy storage in Nigeria and across West Africa. Businesses want reliable power and more predictable energy costs, and storage can help them get more from solar while using less diesel. Making these projects work starts with understanding local conditions: how reliable the grid is, when customers use power and what their operations require. Those needs can vary quite a bit between markets and customers. Our local service presence in Nigeria gives AlphaESS a base to support West Africa and work closely with local partners. For us, combining technology with that local understanding is key to developing projects that perform well over time. At REFA, we look forward to sharing these perspectives and discussing how investment and technology can better meet local project needs and support the region’s storage growth.” Max Luo, Regional Manager, AlphaESS
“As a Chinese solar cable manufacturer, KUKA CABLE sees REFA 2026 as an opportunity to bring our manufacturing expertise closer to the needs of Nigeria and the wider West African market. We see strong long-term potential in the region and hope to support local solar projects with cables that prioritise safety, durability and reliable performance. We are taking part in REFA 2026 to meet local developers, EPC contractors and distributors, better understand their requirements for cable selection, quality and delivery, and explore opportunities for long-term cooperation. We value the opportunity to hear directly from the market and understand how we can better support local solar projects.”
Jackie Wang, Chief Operating Officer, KUKA CABLE
“Nigeria represents one of West Africa’s most dynamic markets for renewable energy development, with growing momentum around solar, storage, and local value creation. SolarPower Europe is proud to support REFA 2026, which provides a valuable platform to connect expertise, capital and credible projects. This initiative also strengthens the partnerships needed to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition. Through our extensive membership network, which spans the entire solar and storage value chain, we aim to facilitate partnerships that support the expansion of Nigeria’s renewable energy market.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO, SolarPower Europe
“Africa’s energy transition presents an opportunity that extends well beyond electrification. Across the continent, distributed renewable energy is increasingly positioned to power productive enterprises, strengthen local value chains and support Africa’s industrialisation ambitions. Our ambition at AMDA is to help translate this potential into investable, scalable markets that deliver lasting economic impact. Our partnership with AFSIA on REFA 2026 reflects this commitment, bringing together developers, investors and policymakers to unlock investment, strengthen collaboration and advance Africa’s transition from energy access to economic transformation.”
You can register now for REFA and the AFSIA Awards at b2match.com/e/refa-2026.
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