According to the International Energy Agency they are essential to future rural electrification in Africa. When combined with efficient and environmentally sustainable battery storage, solar mini-grids present a compelling economic case for rural communities in Africa. Solar-powered mini-grids are now often cost-competitive with diesel-powered grids, offering governments an opportunity to drastically reduce carbon emissions, and households the prospect of cleaner air.Ĭonverting diesel-powered mini-grids to run on solar power – a process known as technology switching – could produce annual global CO2 emissions savings of up to 470 million metric tons, roughly equivalent to Brazil’s annual CO2 emissions. Since then, solar panels in Africa have gone through something of a revolution and between 20, solar PV module prices fell by 80%. Governments had the existing diesel infrastructure knowledge and mini-grid developers had enough experience to scale mini-grids quickly and effectively. When African governments started building mini-grids in the 1960s, diesel generators were the most popular energy source – they were relatively straightforward to run and solar technology was still in its infancy. It’s changed our lives.– Community member, Bisanti It also powers lights so children can play in the night and some go to night school. Now we have light we have stopped using candles we now have fridges for cold drinks.
The mini-grid also powers small businesses, a school and a health clinic.īefore the lights the place was very dark, and we didn’t have lights or fridges. In Bisanti, Nigeria, private mini-grid developer Green Village Energy has built a mini-grid consisting of 126 solar panels, enough to provide electricity for 340 households in the area. Indeed, research suggests that the ‘ primary story to tell about the impact of electricity is not lighting, but communication: television, mobile phones and the internet’. Mini-grids also avoid the problem of power cuts from the main grid, in theory ensuring a less intermittent supply of electricity.Ī more dependable electricity supply allows businesses to stay open later and develop faster, clinics to maintain safer cold stores, and households to power fridges, fans and phones. This local nature of mini-grids allows developers to better track and understand a community’s energy needs so electricity supply can match demand. Renewable mini-grids are cheaper and greener than everĪs they’re not connected to a main grid, mini-grids only generate electricity for local consumption.
Mini-grids operate in a space between the two when the population is too small or remote for grid extension and standalone solar systems aren’t viable for larger electricity needs.Įssentially mini-grids are independent, decentralised electricity networks that can function separately from a national grid. Extending the grid is cost-effective in connecting large, densely-populated communities who live close to the grid, but the cost of extension rises exponentially when the population density falls.įor those living in the most remote areas, standalone solar systems operating independently of the grid can meet electricity needs such as phone charging and lighting but may struggle with larger electricity loads such as powering machinery and agricultural equipment.
Grid extension works by extending a national electricity grid to households and communities without access. Providing electricity to rural populations can take three forms: grid extension standalone solar systems and mini-grids. With that in mind, here’s the mini-grid story. I came away convinced that scaling up rural electrification is absolutely possible we just need to get much better at telling the story of how people are overcoming the undoubted challenges. I recently joined one of their workshops in Abuja, Nigeria, to find out more. The good news is that governments, donors and the private sector have set up peer-to-peer learning networks such as the Africa Mini-Grids Community of Practice to try and tackle this issue. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach that will work in every African country, let alone every small community. Well-suited to small, remote communities, renewable energy mini-grids can now be the cheaper, greener option for rural electrification.īut it’s not that simple. Solar-powered mini-grids could be the answer to rural access and dirty energy. Those who have access often rely on polluting, unreliable and costly diesel-powered generators. These areas risk being left even further behind. Yet 590 million people in Africa currently live without access to electricity, the majority in rural areas. Electricity access is essential for people’s lives and livelihoods: from using fridges to store food and medicine charging mobile phones to stay connected lighting up households and schools at night to powering local businesses.
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