EM-ONE to Deploy Innovative Solar Microgrid for United Nation’s House Nigeria
United Nation’s House in Abuja, Nigeria © United Nations Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria. 15 April, 2025 – EM-ONE Energy Solutions (EM-ONE), a leading engineering and technology firm advancing the energy transition in Africa, has been awarded a contract to design and deploy a cutting-edge solar microgrid at the UN House, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Nigerian headquarters in central Abuja.
This project is a landmark initiative under the UNDP's Smart Facilities framework, which aims to integrate digitalization, renewable energy and data-driven energy management to enhance sustainability across UN facilities worldwide. By significantly reducing dependence on diesel generators and an unreliable national grid, this initiative sets a scalable precedent for institutional energy transformation.
With an unstable grid leading to heavy reliance on diesel backup generators, the UN House Abuja faces high operational costs and carbon emissions. EM-ONE’s innovative microgrid will provide a sustainable, cost-effective and resilient power supply, marking a major step in UNDP’s commitment to climate neutrality.
A Smart & Sustainable Energy Solution
The project includes a 400 kWp solar PV grid-tied system, with a future-ready design for potential expansion to 700 kWp solar PV and 650 kWh of lithium-ion battery storage. The system will feature space-efficient carport-mounted solar panels, ensuring optimal land use while providing shaded parking for UN personnel and visitors.
Key highlights:
Smart Energy Management: AI-driven control for optimal power distribution, reducing grid reliance and lowering operational costs.
Autonomous Operation: Integrated with the UN House Grid and generator synchronization panel for seamless switching.
Real-time Monitoring: Cloud-based IoT-enabled platform for remote performance tracking and fault detection.
Future-Ready Design: Engineered for easy expansion of PV and energy storage.
Sustainable Infrastructure: Fully aligned with the UNDP Green Energy Initiative and UN’s Climate Neutrality Plan.
The system will be supported by a three-year operations & maintenance (O&M) contract, ensuring long-term efficiency, reliability and capacity building for local teams.
Greening Institutional Infrastructure: A UNDP Priority
This project is a key milestone in UNDP’s broader strategy to green its infrastructure, ensuring that UN operations “walk the talk” on sustainability. It aligns with the UN’s Seven-Step Green Energy Process, a roadmap designed to drive large-scale institutional energy transformation through data-driven energy audits, business case development, smart procurement, and digitalized energy management.
As part of the Smart UN Facilities framework, this project integrates with global efforts to:
Reduce UNDP’s greenhouse gas emissions by 10% over five years.
Enhance operational resilience through intelligent energy systems.
Showcase a replicable model for institutional clean energy adoption.
UNDP has already deployed solar PV systems across 20+ country offices, and UN House Abuja will further demonstrate the potential for scaling similar projects across Africa and beyond.
The new solar PV system is projected to:
Meet at least 26% of UN House’s electricity needs, drastically cutting costs.
Offset 283 tons of CO₂ annually, reinforcing Nigeria’s and UNDP’s net-zero commitments.
Enhance business continuity and workplace efficiency through reliable, clean energy.
Quote from EM-ONE's CEO, Mir Islam
“We are excited to partner with UNDP Nigeria on this transformative initiative. This project exemplifies how institutional buildings can leverage cutting-edge renewable energy technology for sustainability and resilience. At EM-ONE, we remain committed to pioneering innovative energy solutions that can drive impact at scale.”
About EM-ONE
EM-ONE Energy Solutions is an engineering and technology powerhouse driving the energy transition in West Africa. With a track record of over 320 solar microgrids, totaling 20 MWp of installed solar PV and 90 MWh of energy storage, EM-ONE specializes in delivering scalable, high-performance energy solutions for healthcare facilities, government institutions, and large-scale infrastructure.
Through partnerships with leading donors, global technology firms, and institutional funders, EM-ONE integrates intelligent renewable energy systems that power Africa’s future.
