PowerLabs is building software and hardware to coordinate Nigeria’s mixed power sources

In short

PowerLabs, a Lagos-based energy and climate-tech startup, is building a control system for Nigeria’s patchwork power setup.

It aims to coordinate grid power, solar, batteries, and diesel generators so they work together instead of competing.

What happened

PowerLabs says many Nigerian businesses already have multiple power sources, but they are managed separately. That leads to waste, higher fuel bills, and more downtime.

The company is building what it calls an “intelligence layer” for energy. In plain terms, it is a mix of software and embedded hardware installed on-site that monitors and switches between power inputs.

The goal is to treat grid supply, diesel, solar, and storage as a single system that can respond in real time. For example, it can prioritise solar when available, fall back to batteries, and only run diesel when needed.

PowerLabs was founded in January 2023 by Tobechukwu Arize, David Adebiyi, Joses Williams, and Eghonghon-aye Eigbe.

Why it matters

Nigeria’s electricity problem is often framed as a generation shortfall, but PowerLabs is betting that coordination is now a core bottleneck. Many offices, factories, and hospitals already spend heavily on “behind-the-meter” power, meaning power produced on their premises rather than from the grid.

The startup’s timing matches ongoing grid instability. Nigeria can theoretically generate over 13,000 megawatts, but actual supply in early 2026 has remained much lower due to gas shortages, ageing infrastructure, and repeated grid failures.

If coordination tools reduce diesel runtime and smooth switching between sources, businesses could cut operating costs and get more predictable power. It could also support more distributed energy, like rooftop solar, without adding chaos to day-to-day operations.