Site-specific Application

Site-specific Application

The DARES PBG for Interconnected Mini-Grid uses the DARES Platform powered by Odyssey exclusively for all tender-related activities. Submissions outside of the platform will not be accepted. 

 

In addition to this participation guide, please review the complete Odyssey user guides and FAQs to troubleshoot

any issues, or reach out to the Odyssey support team via the support chat box in the bottom right corner of the application.

1. Create Your Project

Once your pre-qualification application has been Selected, you may create a project for each mini-grid site on a rolling basis. 
  1. Click on Finance > Programs
  2. Select the  DARES PBG for Interconnected Mini-Grid  program to open it.
  1. Create a Mini-Grid Project.
  1. Complete the site location information.

2. Complete the project data modules

Complete the initial technical analysis for the project under the Project Design tab. Please read an overview of each project module as well as the program requirements for completing each module below.
 Detailed instructions for how to use each module can be followed in the pre-development user guides.

Information

The information module of the project contains the site information that was provided when creating the project.
You will also upload site-specific application files in the Project Files tab for each project. completing your site information.


Load

In the load module, you will provide information on the number and type of customers as well as the projected load profile. Learn more about creating a load assessment.


Generation Design

Once your load profile in Odyssey is complete, you can design a generation system. Odyssey is integrated with HOMER Energy to enable rapid system design based on your load assessment. Odyssey pulls in your 8760 load profile and site location to design your generation system. Learn more about designing your generation system


Info
Modelling the grid connection
  • Add the Grid component to your design on the AC bus.
  • Select the Grid component and complete the following fields:
    • Distribution Use of System (DUoS) Fee: the fee per kWh payable to the DisCo for use of its network.
    • Buy Price: the price per kWh you will pay for electricity purchased from the grid.
    • Sell Price: the price per kWh you will receive for electricity sold to the grid.
    • Net-metering Payment Frequency: select the option that applies under your arrangement with the DisCo, or None if not applicable.
  • Untick "The grid is always available" and enter the daytime and nighttime hours of grid supply, based on your feeder's actual supply hours.
  • Your system must be able to continue supplying customers when the grid is unavailable (islanding), as set out in Section 4.5 of the Site-Specific Instruction Document.
After you run the HOMER optimisation, the Energy Purchased, Energy Sold and Net-metering Energy Expenditure fields will populate automatically.

Distribution Design

In the Distribution Design module you will track and categorize capital expenditures related to the distribution network and customer connections.
The distribution system costs will be pulled into the Financials section and used to calculate project financial performance metrics. Learn more about tracking distribution design costs.


Costs 

The Costs module is a place to track and categorize project capital and operating expenditures.
These will be pulled into the Financials module and used to calculate project financial performance metrics. Learn more about  tracking costs.


Revenue

The Revenues module calculates your revenues based on your defined tariff structure and forecasted load profile. Learn more about entering your tariff structure. 

Info Requirement
  1. The tariff proposed in the Odyssey financial model shall comply with NERC’s Mini-Grid AFUR Tool. You can download the AFUR tool here.
  1. You must set Tariffs in Naira


Financial

In the Financials module, you will enter project-level sensitivities and account for ramping/growth rates for your load assessment.
The financial page uses all the information you entered into Odyssey to calculate key financial metrics. Learn more about calculating project financials.

Info
Requirement
  1. Ensure that the expected lifespan of your project is 20 years.
  2. The baseline year should be Year 2.

3. Upload Site-Specific Project application documents

You are required to upload all site-specific documents in the Project Application tab.


To upload your files:


  • Go to the Documents Upload section in the application form.

  • Drag and drop your files into the upload area, or click Browse to select files from your device.

  • Ensure you upload all required supporting documents in this section to successfully submit your application.

To upload additional files not listed in the Documents Upload section:

  • Click on the Files tab.

  • Upload your additional documents by clicking Upload Files and selecting the files you wish to add.

4. Submit your Application

Once you have completed the required data modules in the Site-Specific Technical Application, you can submit your application through the Project Submission module.
 Ensure all project data modules and required document uploads in the Project Application module are completed before submission.

  • To submit your project:

    • Navigate to the Project Submission module.

    • Click the Submit Project to Program button.

      • Verify that all required documents in the Project Application tab are uploaded, as incomplete uploads will prevent submission.

    Check Your Application Status

    Below is a description of the project application statuses set by the program managers. You can use this information to track the status of your application:

    • Under Review
      Your application is currently being reviewed by the program managers.

    • Incomplete
      Your site-specific application is incomplete and requires additional information. Your project has been reopened for editing.

      Info
      Once you add the required information, you must message REA to inform them you have made the necessary updates. You also need to resubmit the project from the ' Project Submission' page.

    • Approved/Grant Agreement Under Review
      Your application has been reviewed and accepted. The grant agreement is currently under review.

    • Grant Agreement Signature
      The grant agreement for your project has been signed.

    • Commissioned
      The project has been commissioned and is in progress.

    • Declined
      Your application has not been approved for the program.

    • Cancelled
      The project has been cancelled

5. Milestones Reporting

You will need to report milestone updates on your project development to the REA program administrators. To do this:
  1. Within each project, select the Milestones tab from the top navigation bar.
  2. To update a milestone, click on Status to make changes.
  3. You can also select the milestone to update its status, add notes, and attach files.



Additional Milestones

You can customize additional Milestones for your projects by
  1. Click on the + Add Milestones sign in the Additional Milestones section
  2. Input the milestone that you want to report on and a description of it and then click on Add Milestone to create it
  3. Select the newly created milestone from the list below 
  4. Click on Edit Milestone to provide a status and any required details
  5. Click on Confirm to save it.

Milestone Status Definition 

A description of the application milestone you will set is provided below:

  • Financing Secured
    Once you have secured financing needed to begin purchasing materials for and constructing your site, set the status of your project to "Financing Secured" to update the program administrators (REA) on your project progress.

  • Purchase Order Assets
    Once you have placed an order for the purchase of materials for the site, set the status of your project to "Purchase Order Assets" to update the program administrators on your project progress.

  • All Goods Received (Cleared Customs)
    Once you have received the materials and cleared them.

  • Installation (All Goods on Site)
    Once all materials required for construction are at the site and you are able to begin the installation of the mini-grid components., set the status of your project to "Installation (All Goods on Site)" to update the  program administrators on your project progress.

  • Under Construction
    Once you have begun construction on your project, set the status of your project to "Under Construction" to update the  program administrators on your project progress.

  • Commissioned
    Once your solar plant is connected to the DisCo grid, NEMSA has inspected the site, and at least 80% of your planned connections are connected with meters integrated on Odyssey, set the status to "Commissioned" and upload the Milestone 1 documents listed in Section 6.      Learn more here.

Info
When updating the “Commissioned” milestone, be sure to review the form that lists the required documents for upload to be eligible for disbursement. You must upload all required documents.


  • Customers Connected
    Once customers have begun using power at the site, set the status of your project to "Customers Connected" to update the  program administrators on your project progress. 


Info
When updating the “Customer Connected” milestone, be sure to review the form that lists the required documents for upload to be eligible for disbursement. You must upload all required documents.


6. Project Deployment

Once your project has been approved and you have signed the grant agreement, you become eligible for disbursement. The program includes two milestones that you must achieve to access the grant funds.

The grant is calculated per kWp of installed solar capacity, based on the band of the feeder your mini-grid connects to:
Feeder bandGrant rate
Band CUSD 750 per kWp
Band DUSD 950 per kWp
Band EUSD 1,000 per kWp
The final grant amount is based on the capacity verified on site by the Independent Verification Agent (IVA).
Info
Implementation timeline
  • The mini-grid must be commissioned within 12 months of signing the grant agreement.
  • All customers must be connected within 24 months of signing the grant agreement. Connections made after 24 months are not eligible for grants.

Milestone 1: Commissioning and Grid Interconnection (80% of grant)

Eligibility criteria:
  • The installed solar plant is connected to the DisCo grid.
  • At least 80% of the planned number of connections are connected, with smart meters integrated with Odyssey.
  • The site has been inspected by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) before commissioning.
Documents to submit on Odyssey:
  1. A Letter of Request addressed to the REA DARES Head Procurement Unit, detailing the claim (template on Odyssey).
  2. An invoice showing bank details (template on Odyssey).
  3. Completed connection details on Odyssey.
  4. Verification report of installations by the Independent Verification Agent (IVA).
  5. Proof of approved site inspection from NEMSA.
  6. Environmental and Social documents: evidence of ESIA or ESMP approval by the Federal Ministry of Environment where applicable, land acquisition documents, and evidence of Resettlement Action Plan or Livelihood Restoration Plan implementation where applicable.
  7. Proof of approval and payment for NERC registration/permit. The tariff submitted to NERC using the AFUR Tariff Tool must not be higher than the tariff in your approved technical proposal.

Milestone 2: Supply Performance (remaining 20% of grant)

Eligibility criteria:
  • Evidence that the minimum daily hours of supply set out in your Service Level Agreement (SLA) were achieved over a 6-month period within one year of commissioning.
  • Meters remain integrated with Odyssey to enable live readings.
  • Performance has been successfully verified by the IVA.
Documents to submit on Odyssey:
  1. A Letter of Request addressed to the REA Head Procurement Unit.
  2. An invoice showing bank details (template on Odyssey).
  3. NERC permit/registration approval.
  4. ESIA/ESMP certificate, where applicable.
  5. NEMSA inspection certificate.

Example

A Band E project is approved for 1,000 kWp in the grant agreement, making it eligible for up to 1,000 kWp x USD 1,000 = USD 1,000,000.

Milestone 1Milestone 2
  • The IVA verifies 900 kWp actually installed and connected to the grid.
  • Grant based on verified capacity: 900 x USD 1,000 = USD 900,000.
  • Milestone 1 releases 80%: USD 900,000 x 80% = USD 720,000.
  • The plant meets the minimum hours of supply in the SLA over a 6-month period.
  • Milestone 2 releases the remaining 20%: USD 900,000 x 20% = USD 180,000.

Total grant disbursed (if all conditions are met): USD 900,000.

7. Submit Connections for Verification

Once your mini-grid has been commissioned, you will submit your customer connections for verification. At least 80% of planned connections must be connected, with meters integrated with Odyssey, to qualify for Milestone 1.

1. Integrate Meter Data

Odyssey enables you to integrate operating data in the data integrations section of Odyssey.
For remote verification of connections, Odyssey automatically checks your meter and payment data integrated with Odyssey to verify that your connections have been supplied with electricity and meet program requirements. Learn more about setting up a data integration.
Notes

Once your site has been commissioned, please complete your meter integration as soon as possible so your data will be available when you are ready to complete remote verification. 
 
Note: When creating the Integration on Odyssey, please ensure the Level of integration is Project level and the Data Set is Meter Metrics. Reach out to the Odyssey support team incase of any questions.


2. Complete remote verification and submit your connections 

You will upload connections and complete remote verification in the Connections module of each project. Learn more about completing remote verification and submitting your connections.



Verify your Connections

  • To verify your connections;

  1. Select the checkbox next to each connection you would like to submit

  2. Select Verify

  3. View your connections status

Once you select 'Verify', the verification process will be initiated and the status of each of them will be displayed. Review the meaning of each status below:

  • Verification in progress
    The request to verify the connection has been sent.

  • Meter Reading not found
    No data was found for the meter. Please check your integration again

  • Data out of date range
    Consumption was found, but not within the date range of the rule (e.g. Consumption is greater than zero but doesn't meet the 90-day date range)

  • Didn’t meet requirements
    Consumption is equal to 0

  • Error during verification
    An unexpected error occurred.

  • Verified
    Verification was successful

3. View your connections status

Once you have submitted connections, the  program administrators will review your connections and either mark the connections as Approved, Paid, or Rejected.  You can view a summary of the status of all connections in the summary at the top of the Connections module and will be notified by email of any connection status updates.


  • Not Submitted

Connections are uploaded to Odyssey but not submitted. 

  • Submitted Connections

Investor has received the connections.

  • Approved Connections

Investor has approved the connection.

  • Paid Connection

The program administrator has processed the connection as part of a grant disbursement.

  • Rejected Connections

The investor received the connection and there was a reason the connection was refused.
You can rectify the connection (ex: adding missing information) and submit again if appropriate. Please check the Messages section of your project for more information from the program administrator.


8. Messaging program administrators

You can communicate with the Program administrators 

  • Navigate to the Messages module in your project.

  • Write your message 

  • Click on Submit to send it.